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THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l Alstom brings F1 technology to

l Detroit LRT ‘a model for future US schemes’

l upgrades: GBP12bn funding gap

light rail adds value to us gold rush city The case for lightweight construction

Wirral Waters Poznan Independent Inspirational audit backs integration of pioneering UK modern and

streetcar scheme heritage systems MARCH 2013 No. 903 w w w . l r ta . o r g l w w w . t r a m n e w s . n e t £3.80 60th UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition

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PubLayout_Adpage.indd Genève_A4_IMove2.indd 1 1 26/10/20125/07/12 9:41:34 16:26 Contents The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 84 News 84 MARCH 2013 Vol. 76 No. 903 Over-budget Tel Aviv light rail faces long delays; Tube cele- www.tramnews.net brates, but faces project funding gap; Alstom trams harness F1 EDITORIAL power; Chinese metro growth continues - but can it last? Editor: Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1832 281131 E-mail: [email protected] 88 Is HS2 able to unlock UK tramway money? Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. Does the planned construction of ultra-fast high-speed rail Associate Editor: Tony Streeter open the doors for new light rail in the UK? E-mail: [email protected] 90 Wirral Streetcar: Pioneering small-starts Worldwide Editor: Michael Taplin 93 Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. TAUT reports on the latest developments for a green US-style E-mail: [email protected] ‘streetcar’ circulator for the UK’s largest regeneration scheme. News Editor: John Symons 93 Light rail’s value in Gold Rush City 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Vic Simons reports from the Californian capital, Sacramento, following the opening of the airport line’s first stage. Senior Contributor: Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors: Aare Olander, Nikolai 99 Systems Factfile: Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, ’s capital is a city with a very apparent commitment Thomas Wagner, Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), Yoshiri to public transport. Neil Pulling reports. 99 Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson (Australia), Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney (US). 104 Simplifying to reduce cost Production Executive: Carla Corrado David Gibson considers some of the opportunities to reduce Tel: +44 (0)1832 281134 E-mail: [email protected] tramway construction costs. Design: Debbie Nolan 107 Worldwide Review Commercial Manager: Vicky Binley Amiens and Caen to have joint order for trams; Buenos Aires Tel: +44 (0)1832 281132 E-mail: [email protected] modernisation heralds end of wooden stock; Hong Kong Advertising Manager: Andy Adams 116 Tel: +44 (0)1832 281135 E-mail: [email protected] fleet and CBTC orders for Hyundai-Rotem and Siemens; Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. Milan orders new cars. Publisher: Howard Johnston 113 Letters Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA Debate on Jerusalem and the security issue; the need to take Publishing on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. financing seriously; appeal to preserve Buenos Aires cars. LRTA Website and Diary: Brian Lomas 116 Classic Trams: Poznan E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] The Polish city is home to an active heritage operation. LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. You are welcome to join the LRTA. subscriptions: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), Never mind peak oil, worry about ‘smart’ cars 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. SIMON JOHNSTON, Editor BACK ISSUES: Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION: Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. Following revealing conversations with tough economic climate by offering more LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, insiders at two of the world’s largest for our money. Better equipment, longer Kent DA16 2BY. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 automobile manufacturers this month – the warranties, increased integration with in and Wales. battle for the hearts, minds and purse the latest smartphones, and all manner LRTA Chairman: Andrew Braddock. LRTA Deputy Chairman: Vic Simons strings of potential urban rail users is to get of little luxuries to make cars more LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 8 Berwick Place, very interesting over the next few years. enjoyable places to spend time. Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 in England and Wales. To attract people out of their cars and The thinking (well, mine anyway) goes © LRTA Publishing 2013. onto urban rail systems we need to play like this: It’s now possible to buy a car that Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used to our strengths: convenience, reliability, achieves 70-80mpg (4l-3.5l/100km), on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that value for money, green credentials, offering reduced emissions (with lower its author is responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions comfort and technological connectivity. tax) that can talk to your smartphone are not those of LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. On the first two, mass transit systems – reading SMS messages, emails and No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording certainly deliver. On the following four Bluetooth for all your digital media – with or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior we may struggle if put up against the a five/seven-year warranty. In the UK, permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the automakers, which are delivering better all this can be yours around GBP10 000. contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. and better products year on year – and Spread over a three- or five-year period, at increasingly attractive prices. the ‘burden’ of private motoring reduces

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES Electric cars will always fail to when household finances are constrained. l alstom brings F1 technology to trams l detroit lrt ‘a model capture mass market share when the As cars get cleverer and better in leaps for future us schemes’

l london upgrades: gBP12bn funding gap infrastructure isn’t in place to support and bounds, we need to keep pace. them – disappointing sales have been l An apology is due to Ian Hammond, recorded to date with range anxiety one one of our Australasian contributors, of the biggest stumbling blocks. But the Sacramento 220 incorrectly credited as co-author of the leads a four-car CAF next generation of hybrids and ‘range Adelaide Systems Factfile in TAUT 901. light rail adds value extenders’ are certainly capable of We apologise for any inconvenience or to us gold rush city unit at Archives Plaza The case for lightweight construction turning heads away from public transport. embarrassment this may have caused. Poznan westbound to Folsom Independent Inspirational audit backs integration of At the same time, car manufacturers For factual corrections to this piece, see pioneering UK modern and streetcar scheme heritage systems MARCH on 1 November 2012. 2013 No. 903 w w w . l r ta . o r g l w w w . t r a m n e w s . n e t £3.80 are battling it out for market share in a Letters – page 114.

TAUT_1303_Cover.indd 1 30/01/2013 11:41 Vic Simons

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 83 News Flexity 2 Over-budget Tel Aviv chosen for Suzhou LRT faces long delays Bombardier’s joint venture Israeli Finance Ministers announced in January unlikely to open before 2019, officials have said. with CSR Nanjing Puzhen has that the Tel Aviv light rail project is likely to be de- The findings have led finance ministry officials received an order for 18 low- layed by at least two years after a detailed project to consider whether to continue with the further floor trams based on the Flexity 2 analysis found serious flaws in its cost estimates. proposed lines as state-funded schemes or through design from the Chinese city of The analysis, by auditor Agis, found that the a mechanism where a private sector licensee would Suzhou, which is building an government-owned NTA Metropolitan Mass Tran- raise finance, supported by state subsidies. 18km (11.2-mile) line linking sit – responsible for constructing the LRT system Detailed design has already begun on the 35km the centre of the industrial zone – had already exceeded its NIS15bn budget to (21.7-mile) Green line, which should be commis- and the West Lakeside area. construct the first 22km (13.7-mile) Red line from sioned in 2020 but now also faces delays. The 32m trams will be built in Petah Tikva to Bat Yam by NIS5bn. The cost over- . On 9 January, an NTA conference saw 22 compa- Nanjing and mark the first order runs are ascribed to higher NTA operating costs nies from across Israel and Europe in attendance. for the joint venture, that signed and changes in the Red line’s design, including An invitation to prequalify for a contract to supply a ten-year technology transfer enlarging planned underground stations. and maintain 90 low-floor trams with an option for agreement for the Chinese mar- The overruns have meant additional delays to a further 30 was issued on 8 November 2012. The ket in July 2012 (see TAUT 898). the already behind schedule Red line, which is now deadline for bids is the second quarter of this year. A groundbreaking took place on 11 September, the first of six planned for this city of 11 million residents. Completion is expected in 2014. Kaohsiung tramway goes wire-free . Further to news in TAUT 902, four prototype low-floor trams with CAF order, Taipei may follow from the UVZ/Bombardier joint venture, based on the Flexity A joint venture formed by CAF and the Taiwanese developments around the harbour area that are due design, are to be delivered to Evergreen Construction Corporation has won the to open within the next 18 months. Moscow in early 2014, with 70 TWD5.68bn (EUR143.9m) contract to build and Services are expected to operate 06.00-23.00 arriving before the end of that equip the country’s first tramway of the modern era. each day with headways ranging from 15 minutes year, and the remainder of the CAF will supply electrification and rolling stock off-peak to six minutes at peak times. Ridership 120-strong order in 2015. for the 8.7km (5.4-mile) phase 1 line, offering its projections for the full route show 87 000 passen- Urbos 3 low-floor and battery-based wire-free gers/day by 2021. operation, while Evergreen will manage civil engi- In the capital, Taipei, approval has been given neering works. Trial operation is planned for the end for a NTD15.31bn (EUR388m), 14km (8.7-mile) of 2014 and passenger service from mid-2015. light rail line in New Taipei, to be built by 2018 The full 22.1km (13.7-mile) route, with 36 along Green Mountain Rd to Tamsui Fisherman’s stops, will link the city’s main station with busi- Wharf. A second phase, adding a further 4.4km ness, retail and residential areas, as well as major (2.7 miles), is planned.

Bombardier’s CSR joint venture has won its first order, for Flexity 2-based trams for the first line of a modern LRT system in Suzhou, China. Blackpool (UK) was the launch customer for the Flexity 2. Tony Stevenson

Judge rules for Honolulu go-ahead On 27 December a US Federal judge gave the go- ahead to resume construction on western section of the automated metro line in Honolulu, Hawaii.However, further land acquisitions or construction on the city sections are still embargoed until further studies are completed, the judge ruled. The city still hopes to have the USD5.5bn elevated rail project completed by 2019, capitalising on an FTA award of USD1.5bn signed in December. Taxpayers are to meet the rest of project costs through a 0.5% sales tax. Battery operation of CAF trams without overhead can already been seen in the Spanish city of Zaragoza. J. Peña Gonzalvo

84 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Detroit gets FTA funding

On 18 January US Transporta- tion Secretary Ray LaHood visited Detroit to announce that the private consortium M-1 Rail would be eligible for USD25m in federal funding for its planned 5.3km (3.3-mile) Woodward Avenue tramway, estimated to cost USD137m. The announcement followed confirmation that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder had signed into law the creation of a Regional Transportation Author- ity, which has been promised USD6.5m in federal funding. The Southeast Michigan RTA was a requirement as stated by The world’s oldest underground rail network celebrated with a steam-hauled service on 13 January. Siemens, one of the LaHood for the authorisation of event’s major sponsors, is also commemorating 170 years of business in the UK in 2013. From right: Sam Mullins, Director, the funding – 23 previous pro- ; Roland Busch, CEO Siemens Infrastructure & Cities; Boris Johnson, Mayor of London; Sir Peter posals over the past 40 years had Hendy CBE, Commissioner; Jochen Eickholt, CEO Siemens Rail Systems; Sandra Gott-Karlbauer, CEO sought to create one and failed. Siemens Urban Transport; Steve Scrimshaw, MD of Siemens Rail Systems UK and Roland Aurich, CEO Siemens UK. TfL Secretary LaHood said: “This is extraordinary. This can th become a model for the rest of Tube’s 150 birthday, but the country, where a community has come together in one of the hardest economic times in the warnings of funding gap history of the country and really put together a programme that The London Underground (LU) celebrates its 150th and signalling for the ‘sub-surface’ routes and for will benefit the people.” birthday in 2013 and on 13 January steam-hauled the Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Circle A consortium of Michigan journeys were made along the original Metropolitan lines. The modernisation programme also includes investors has raised USD100m Railway – now the Hammersmith & City Line. recent upgrades of the Jubilee and Victoria lines. towards the scheme – the largest The special service used 1898-built MR locomo- TfL has indicated a preference for driverless private sector contribution to tive 1, 1892-built Jubilee carriage 353, a rake articulated cars with walk-through carriages for the any urban transit project in US of preserved MR carriages and preserved ‘Met’ Piccadilly line, as well as for the Waterloo & City history. It will now tender for electric locomotive 12 ‘Sarah Siddons’, marshalled and Central lines. Trains on the Jubilee, Victoria six trams and hopes to start pub- at the other end of the train to ‘Met 1’. and Central lines are already driven automatically, lic services in autumn 2015. The first section of the ‘Tube’ opened on January 9 though the cabs are manned. 1863, with the first passenger journeys taking place TfL has recently acquired a fleet of new air-con- 11 Grand the following day. The network carried record ditioned trains for the Metropolitan line, and higher 10 Amtrak numbers of passengers in 2011-12, with 1.171bn frequency services on the Victoria and Central E. Grand Blvd. 9 Ferry journeys made; 64m more than the previous year. lines are promised for later this year. Key stations 11 8 Warren On 13 January, internet services giant Google in central London including Victoria, Tottenham 10 7 Canfield 6 MLK also paid its own tribute to the Tube with a special Court Road and Vauxhall will have been rebuilt. 5 Sibley ‘Google doodle’ based upon the iconic LU map. December saw the completion of the London 4 Foxtown However, Transport for London Managing Overground network, with the joining up of the 9 3 Grand Director Mike Brown has warned the UK capital’s route between Quays and Clapham Junc- Circus Park 2 Camous passengers could suffer years of disruption because tion, which carried one million passengers during 8 Martius of a GBP12bn (approx. EUR14bn) funding gap its first month of operation. Woodward1 7 Congress in planned upgrades to two lines. Mr Brown has LU is planning more celebrations in its 150th called for government funding to complete mod- year, including further heritage trips, theatrical Lodge Fwy. N Mack ernisation of the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, as events at the disused Aldwych station, and events 1.4 miles well as upgrades to Bank, Monument and Holborn at the London Transport Museum’s Acton store. 6 stations. Reliability on the Piccadilly line is being . The Queen’s New Year’s Honours awarded a affected by the ageing rolling stock, which must be Knighthood to London’s Transport Commissioner, replaced over the next ten years. Sir Peter Hendy CBE. An OBE was awarded to Grand River 5 Funding has only been secured for the Northern London Underground Chief Operating Officer, 4 line upgrade, to be completed in 2014, new trains Howard Collins. Adams 3 Michigan Hasselt – Maastricht cross-border tramway approved 2 People 1 On 18 December the city council of the Dutch city taken between the two cities to 39 minutes. A tender Mover of Maastricht approved plans for a high-speed tram for a initial fleet of 12 40m trams, capable of 100km/h line, which will run through city streets from the (62mph) outside the cities, is expected imminently. Hart railway station to Belvédere and then across the The main objective of the line is to boost con- Detroit River Plaza border into Belgium. nectivity between the universities in Maastricht and Work will start in 2014 for completion in 2017. Hasselt, two important educational facilities that The planned Woodward Avenue Once open, the tramway will almost halve the time work together. tramway in Detroit.

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org march 2013 85 News

Bristol BRT review Chinese metro growth Bristol’s planned Bus Rapid Transit system (UK) is under review following the election continues – can it last? of George Ferguson as Mayor during 2012; he has Metro expansion across China saw over 120km instigated a review and has (75 miles) in new lines and extensions opened in suggested as an alternative December and early January, but observers suggest to the Harbourside routing the pace of development may burden local authori- a route involving a transport ties with unsustainable debts. hub based on the Temple A further 69.8km (43.4 miles) of new metro Meads station area. opened for service in Beijing on 30 December, including the new 30.4km (18.9-mile) east –west Sacramento Blue line line 6 (Haidan Wuluju – Caofang); the city exten- US Transportation Secretary sion of line 8 to Guloudajie, the southern extension Ray LaHood visited of line 9 to Beijing West railway station and the Sacramento on 7 January extensions to circle line 10, leaving just the gap to announce a USD135m from Xiju to Shoujingmao to complete the outer federal grant for the project circle line, to be filled later this year. to extend the light rail Blue The system now totals 442km (275 miles) with line by 6.9km (4.3 miles) 261 stations and carries around nine million pas- China’s subway systems are struggling to cope with to Cosumnes River College. sengers per day. The Beijing Municipal Commis- passenger numbers, even given the rapid pace of Completion is programmed sion of Transport expects to open at least one new construction of new lines in major cities. Shanghai’s metro for 2015. line each year until 2015, with the longer-term aim added a further extension to line 9 and began openings For a more detailed report being to reach 1050km (over 650 miles), with 30 on line 13 in late December 2012. Marc van der Chijs on Sacramento light rail, turn lines and over 450 stations by the end of 2020. to page 93. Line 6 is the fastest on the system (now 42 River, and is operated with six-car trains from CSR years old), with operational speeds up to 100km/h Zhuzhou. Sadly, tragedy struck on December 31 State support for (62mph). Trains take 48 minutes to travel the with five workers killed and 18 injured in a col- French rail industry entire line. It also features the deepest station, the lapse at a construction site of a new park-and-ride. Friday 11 January saw interchange with line 5 at Dongsi being 34m un- The 27.7km (17.2-mile) north–south Wuhan the inaugural meeting of a derground. Phase two will add 12.4km (7.7 miles) metro line 2 from Jinyintan to Optics Valley strategic committee charged and seven stations, while the final phase will add Square opened on 28 December, with the opera- with supporting the French just over 9km (5.6 miles) and five stations, with tor already either in the construction or planning railway industry as it seeks the entire route operational by the end of 2015. stages of a further nine lines. to further capitalise on export According to the Commission, around CNY18.4bn However, the pace of construction has created opportunities in the urban (USD3bn) has been invested in line 6 to date. concerns over affordability, as reported in China rail sectors and in emerging This expansion is crucial as the population is Daily. With heavy subsidies in place for construc- markets such as Asia and growing faster than the national average, with urban tion and operation, and operating deficits for most South America. migration a key issue. The metro is under pressure, systems, leading academics suggest the pace of The French railway sector with overcrowding during rush hours. construction is not sustainable for smaller cities. currently employs around 30 December also saw a three-station extension “With surging costs in building and operat- 21 000 people. of Shanghai metro line 9 to Songjian South railway ing subways, many smaller cities waiting to get The French Transport station, together with the first section of line 13, approval for subway construction will simply not Ministry has also launched a from Jinshajing Road (interchange with lines 3 and be able to afford to operate them even if they are funding competition for fixed- 4) to Jinyun Road. The line is completely under- completed,” said Wang Mengshu, a member of the guideway urban transport ground, including a crossing under the Yangtze Chinese Academy of Engineering. projects, under which up to EUR450m is to be made available to local authorities. Brookville wins Oak Cliff Daugavpils order RATP Dev UK changes The contract for two Liberty There is an option for a further Belkommunmash has been RATP Dev has announced low-floor trams has been signed two cars, which will be required chosen to deliver 12 new structural changes for its UK with Brookville Equipment Cor- if plans to extend the line come trams to the Latvian city of transport team, building on poration by DART for the 2.4km to fruition; the Regional Trans- Daugavpils in a contract rapid growth in the UK over (1.5-mile) Oak Cliff tramline portation Council has reallocat- worth LVL4.6bn (EUR6.6m) the past 18 months, as the linking Union Station and Meth- ed USD30.87m from a connec- for delivery in October. company explores further odist Dallas Medical Center, tor system at Love Field airport The order is part of a opportunities. currently under construction. to the tramway project to extend renovation package for Richard Casling, previously The target date for passenger the line 1.1km (0.7 miles) on 6.2km (3.9 miles) of tramline, Managing Director for service is October 2014. Zang Blvd and Davis St. including accessibility London United, becomes improvements; EU funding is UK Group Chief Financial being made available for the Officer whilst remaining at bulk of the project. London United as Executive Serco DLR contract extension Chairman, while Steve Transport for London has extended its contract with Serco Loyola Avenue opens Whiteway takes on the role Docklands Ltd to operate the by 18 months. The USD52m tramline from of Area Director North, while Under the contract, Serco will continue to be responsible for the opera- Canal Street to Union Station, remaining as Managing tion and maintenance of the DLR – less the Lewisham, Woolwich and New Orleans (US), was Director of Coaches. Stratford International extensions which have separate maintainers. energised from 3 January, Metrolink RATP Dev Ltd will The extension, worth approximately GBP100m (around EUR119m), opening on 28 January. continue to report to RATP will continue on the same terms as the original contract awarded in The USD45m 2.4km (1.5- Dev Vice President Europe 2006 and runs to September 2014. Serco has operated the DLR net- mile) line has been funded and Asia, Cyril Carniel. work over the last 15 years, a time that has seen considerable network with a USD45m TIGER grant. expansion. For more on the DLR, see TAUT 901.

86 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Alstom harnesses F1 SUBSCRIBE ALSO available kinetic technology online!

Alstom and Williams Hybrid Power (WHP) ite flywheel that supplies electric power to boost THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES HEADLINES l election results THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE l Royal opening for boost for us funding Casablanca tramway l le havre joins announced on 17 January that they have signed an acceleration. l DART becomes USA’s french tramway club biggest LRT system l australians’ vote of l - confidence in lrt agreement for kinetic energy storage technology Similar technology has been in public service full speed tests begin for application on Citadis trams from 2014. in the UK since 2002, with heavy rail operator Williams Hybrid Power is majority-owned by London Midland using three hybrid/flywheel Parry Williams Grand Prix Holdings – the group that People Movers PPM units on the Stourbridge TOURS DE FORCE: NEW also includes the Williams F1 Team – and develops Town Branch line. lrt security: fighting LRT SYSTEMS FOR 2013 the terrorist threat Hong Kong’s changing transit landscape flywheel energy storage technology primarily for Ian Foley, Managing Director of Williams INSIDE: Special focus on 25 years of DLR Salt Lake City UK Tram Summit Liberec Utah’s key player APTA Conference We ask where in the modern The dual-gauge Decision-makers the money will network with renaissance debate US light come from for high ambitions rail policy and JANUARY of US light rail further systems 2013 for the future the mass transit sector. The technology was origi- Hybrid Power, said: “From the very beginning we FEBRUARY development No. 901 £3.80 2013 w w w . l r ta l . n e t . o r g w w w . t r a m n e w s No. 902 l . t r a m n e w s . n e t o r g w w w £3.80 w w w . l r ta .

TAUT_1302_Cover.indd 1 27/11/2012 15:49 nally developed for the 2009 Williams F1 team, highlighted trams as an ideal application for our 03/01/2013 13:54 TAUT_1301_Cover.indd 1 and has since been introduced onto London buses. technology and to be collaborating with the market After several years of research, Alstom’s part- leader on this project is very exciting. Personal membership nership with WHP to trial the MLC flywheel tech- “We both share a common goal – developing the with TAUT subscription: nology on its Citadis trams offers potential energy next generation of green transport technologies – To Dec 2013 (9 issues) savings of 15% and reduced CO2 emissions. Heat and this agreement will hopefully prove pivotal in UK £34.92 generated in braking and descending gradients is finding a solution that not only cuts carbon emis- International £43.92 used to power a technologically-advanced compos- sions but crucially cuts costs for the end user.’’ To Dec 2014 (21 issues) The Alstom/WHP partnership will UK £79.92 offer an alternative to battery power that Alstom has offered for International £100.92 off-wire operation to date. This scene is in Nice. myrabelle Tramway Review (TR) subscription (4 issues) UK £18.50 International £21.50

Personal membership 9 TAUT and 4 TR: To Dec 2013 UK £53.42 International £65.42 Above: The composite flywheel that WHP claims makes its design safer than a Personal membership conventional metal flywheel. Williams with online access to Hybrid Power TAUT subscription: Dec 2013 (9 issues) £26.64 Hoek van Holland metro confirmed For online payments visit: www.lrta.info/personal An agreement was signed on 17 December to Hoek van Holland was served by long-distance convert the 24km (14.9-mile) Hoek van Holland trains connecting with ferries to Harwich, UK, but rail line to metro operation by RET at a cost of these ceased some years ago. A link will be built Student membership EUR318m, including 18 more to metro line B at Schiedam and through-operation available online only. Swift LRVs and electrification change from 1500v should start in 2017. The Haven to Strand line at dc to 750v dc. Arrangements will be made to ac- Hoek will be realigned and a new station added at Commercial members commodate residual goods traffic. Maassluis Steendijkpolder. (12 issues) UK £52.00 International £64.00 The 3km (1.86-mile) tramway linking the cruise Battery tramway ship terminal with the town centre in Oranjestad, Aruba, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Mike Commercial members opens in Aruba Eman and Minister Benny Sevinge on 24 December. online only (12 issues) Four battery trams are being supplied by the £41.00 Californian-based Transit Innovation Group (which Invoices available only for built the cars used on the mall line in Los Angeles) Commercial membership. and the first of these carries fleet number 1265. Sevinger said the inauguration is crucial for the development of Aruba, saying: “The tram is part of a city renovation plan. Visitors are [now] able to leave their cars in a parking garage and hop on the tram to go to work or to go shopping. “Tourists are able to get on at the port and ride all the way to the end of the street. This is an investment that will last us at least 30 years.” Left: Prime Minister Mike Eman drives the first battery tram through the streets of Oranjestad, Aruba. K. Robbins

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org march 2013 87 News Analysis is HS2 able to unlock big money for UK tramways? Report by howard johnston

oes the construction of High Speed (HS2) – the ultra-fast railway link through the heart of Britain – open the doorsD wide for new tramways and light rail links in the UK’s major cities? Something other than expensive road links will be needed to connect the new stations with people and businesses, and light rail is the best value for money, says the Light Rapid Transit Forum, which represents the UK’s private sector. The first shovels will go into the ground for HS2 in four years time, so there is no time to lose, it argues. West Yorkshire – principal cities Leeds and and a population of 2.23 million – is the most yawning gap in the national LRT network, says LRTF Chairman Roger Harrison. Without HS2, if the French yardstick of tramways for cities of more than 200 000 population was adopted, around 40 cities and unitary authorities in England, Wales and Scotland would be considering light rail; 19 boroughs within the city of London alone have Preparation for future bridge construction over Station Street, in Nottingham (UK), part of the project to more than this number of people. create Nottingham Express Transit lines 2 and 3. Mike Haddon As Mr Harrison and others have pointed out many times, the industry is crying out some sort of continuity regardless of who wins Can we catch up? for a pipeline of schemes to enable it to plan power at the likely 2015 General Election. Although the New Generation Transport beyond the end of 2017, when many of the The LRTF canvassed British chambers scheme in Leeds to serve a present system extensions will be completed. of commerce at last year’s party political population of almost 800 000 seems likely to The fact that congestion in major population conferences and found them broadly supportive, proceed, this is not a situation that would be centres will cost the UK economy GBP22bn although there is clamouring for change. accepted in most major European countries. (EUR25bn) by 2025 still does not seem to be For the UK it has been a good few years, It also seems remarkable that London’s taken seriously, nor acceptance that it reduces with GBP500m being pumped into Manchester 8.17 million population is only served by the attractiveness to residents and investors. Metrolink; GBP570m for the two Nottingham the Docklands Light Railway and , Mr Harrison points out that over 100 000 Express Transit lines; GBP385m for Tyne & when new systems are commonplace in businesses surveyed regard congestion as the Wear Metro modernisation; GBP140m put France and Spain, and has a wealth biggest problem facing them. Lost time getting into Midland Metro to reach Birmingham of major long-serving tramways that were to and from airports and ports costs dearly, city centre, GBP850m upgrading London’s never closed and are now being modernised particularly in the North and Midlands regions. Docklands Light Railway, and GBP100m to and expanded. modernise the . No real political will The LRTF is looking for new systems linked Time runs out for Mr Harrison has expressed his frustration to HS2 that will help rebalance the economy, The Merseytram scheme was high on the at the lack of pro-activity by both major plus schemes where local authorities and agenda in in the middle of the last UK political parties. However the ruling business are in agreement, and others that will decade, and there was widespread concern Conservatives and Labour opposition do reduce congestion and improve connectivity. amongst politicians about how the disruption broadly support LRT, which at least promises With HS2, the is a key caused by its construction would affect its strategic location, with the East Midlands, European City of Culture celebrations. Cities of more than 200 000 Sheffield, Leeds also served, and links They were in 2008, and no-one need have in england and wales possible to Manchester and Liverpool. Cities been concerned as nothing happened with will develop towards stations, so light rail the tramway. Merseytram can be reactivated City Population (000s) links are a straightforward solution to mobility. at short notice, and there are also tram-train Birmingham 1037 (small tramway) opportunities as well as the tramway scheme Finding the money proposed for the multi-billion pound Wirral Leeds 799 (trolleybus planned) As reported in TAUT 901, towns and cities Waters development. Bradford 513 (nil) without any tram scheme mapped out What is worrying is that parliamentary Manchester 499* (tramway) currently have severe difficulty getting one powers for Merseytram expire in February Liverpool 445** (nil) started if they are left to their own devices 2014, and there is still no common agreement Nottingham 307 (tramway) without a prop from central Government. from the six constituent local authorities about The Confederation of British Industry Croydon 346 (tramway) how or whether to proceed. recommends that local pension funds could Yorkshire could see Cardiff 341 (nil) help create local infrastructure funds, while extensions, and London’s aborted Cross-River Coventry 316 (nil) greater use can be made of Tax Increment Tram scheme is being talked about again. Leicester 307 (nil) Financing (TIF) to borrow against predicted Once again, it comes back to HS2 – what will Newcastle 292*** (light metro) growth in locally raised business rates. happen to the thousands of people who will be has used an ‘earn back’ deposited on the northern edge of the capital? * Greater Manchester 1 million scheme to recover its costs, while the purpose- They will not all fit on the Underground or in ** Greater 1.38 million made GBP770m Growing Places Fund can be buses and taxis. Light rail seems the perfect *** Tyne & Wear region 1.12 million exploited to help generate jobs and growth. solution. TAUT

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42_TAUT1302_layoutpage.indd 1 28/01/2013 11:04 News Analysis Wirral Streetcar: Pioneering small-start systems in the UK TAUT reports on the latest developments for a green US-style ‘streetcar’ circulator for the UK’s largest urban regeneration project.

he Peel Group, developers of the multi- The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company more flexible technology than light rail as billion pound Wirral Waters project was acquired by Peel Ports, a division of it has developed over recent decades; it is – the reimagining of the property and transport giant Peel Group, planned to be a system that can fit in with the TDocks area and the largest regeneration in 2005. The Peel Group is a private real development and grow with it. project in the UK – made a presentation estate, transport and infrastructure investment The streetcar scheme grew out of to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Light company and one of the most dynamic and ideas developed for , the Rail Group (APPLRG) at the Houses of diverse property companies in the UK. local Passenger Transport Executive, and Parliament on 22 January, outlining the latest enthusiastically supported by its Director developments on this major project. Wirral Waters General from 2009-11. Peel showed how its ‘Streetcar’ scheme Peel launched the Wirral Waters regeneration is a vital element in providing a sustainable plan for Birkenhead in 2006. With a total area ‘Every five minutes, development and Richard Mawdsley, Projects of 500 acres (202.3 hectares), it is set to create taking five minutes’ Director at Peel, began by outlining the Wirral over 20 000 new jobs – and become a new The system is intended to provide two Waters story to date, progress made since city quarter for the . overlapping and complementary services: its launch in 2006 and the importance of the Wirral Waters seeks to compete with the an all-day, every-day commercial service proposed light rail system as a catalyst to the best waterfront cities in the world, such linking into services at Hamilton regeneration of the Birkenhead Dock system. as Vancouver, Copenhagen and Hamburg. Square station in Birkenhead and a heritage/ Learning and inspiration has been gathered tourist service linking the Ferry Terminals at Background from the rejuvenation of similar port cities and Woodside and . Birkenhead Docks stretches for 4.8km (three the importance of infrastructure investment is All the Merseyrail Wirral train services run miles) inland from the , directly key to Peel’s model. In many ways it can be through Hamilton Square station, offering a opposite Liverpool and within the poorer inner compared to London Docklands – and it has one-seat ride to all Wirral destinations and eastern part of the . the same requirements for accessibility. a service to central Liverpool that will run The docks were largely constructed in the The development has certainly caught ‘every five minutes, taking five minutes’. second half of the 19th Century and adjoin the the imagination of and local The Streetcar lines will run from Hamilton grid street pattern of Birkenhead – a legacy residents. The proposals gained official Square to join the existing heritage tramway of the visionary Laird Birkenhead ‘new town’ planning approval in 2012, following a six- line, running over the tramway to Egerton planned by John Laird in the early 1800s as ‘the year process to secure the consent, and the UK Dock. The line then provides two routes: City of the Future’. Physical glimpses of Laird’s Government has firmly endorsed the project l A one-way loop line running through Wirral vision remain, evidenced by Birkenhead Park, by granting it Enterprise Zone status – one of Waters, with no major building being more the first public park in the world, Hamilton the first four ‘vanguard’ EZs. than 250m from a Streetcar stop. Square and the historic Dock system. The 465 000m2 development is envisioned l An ‘express’ line using the former Changing trade patterns and the growth of as a walkable community, with residents and Birkenhead Docks Railway alongside containerisation led to a movement to new port visitors using sustainable transport modes Corporation Street to link to the huge Peel facilities at Seaforth (where 33m tonnes of – the Streetcar plan is therefore key. It is International Trade Centre being developed freight are handled a year) while Birkenhead interesting that Peel uses the term ‘streetcar’ to the east of Wirral Waters. The line will and Liverpool Docks fell into disuse and decay. to emphasise that this is a lower impact and then run on to a further interchange with Merseyrail at Birkenhead North station (where there is a huge park-and-ride site) and then on to the proposed Bidston Moss leisure and retail development, terminating in Bidston Country Park, next to the lake – a distance of around 4.5km (2.8 miles). The two lines will use streetcars refurbished to provide full disabled access, running up to six times per hour from 06.00 to 00.00. Integrated with this service will be an extended heritage line, aimed at the economically important leisure market. This will start at the Woodside Ferry terminal, running via the existing line to and the east side of the Wirral Waters Loop. From here it will turn off alongside the sea lock and run alongside the Riverside Walk, which gives spectacular views of the Liverpool Pier Head and Cruise Liner Terminal, to terminate at Seacombe Ferry. On the way the line links a number of tourism attractions, including the Transport Museum. Combined with the Ferry this will form a ‘string of pearls’ of attractions. It is hoped an agreement can be reached to allow the beautifully-restored fleet of heritage trams provided by the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society to operate this service. The MTPS has an open top Birkenhead car (20), a Wallasey open balcony car (78) An artist’s impression of the planned Wirral Waters development. Peel Holdings a Liverpool car (762) plus a regauged

90 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Wirral Streetcar: Pioneering small-start systems in the UK The planned development stages of the Wirral Streetcar project, also showing existing Merseyrail and ferry transfer points. Parkinson Inc: Urban Design

Lisbon car (730). MPT is currently working US streetcar builders are developing other projects”. It adds: “The project has the on a Liverpool Baby Grand (245) and a standards for such systems, based on potential to become a catalyst for community Warrington open balcony car (2). worldwide experience. Wirral’s advisors are involvement” and “Operational and cost… The system also has two Hong Kong-built constantly benchmarking proposals against analysis suggests that…a positive net cash cars, supplied to the council when the tramway experience elsewhere, helping to ensure that flow can be achieved”. Deloitte recommended was built, that would make ideal Party Trams. the Wirral Streetcar scheme meets the best the scheme be further developed so a business Peel is also planning renewable energy standards found elsewhere. case could be produced in 2013. centres to provide power for Wirral Waters Mr Mawdsley concluded by saying that (and the streetcar project) including energy A challenge to the industry Peel expected the development to be built in derived from biomass and waste. Mr The UK’s Department for Transport phases, but hoped the first phases could be Mawdsley showed how Peel had supported issued a series of challenges after the first open for the International Festival of Business the extension of Metrolink into Salford Quays, Tram Summit in 2011, and the APPLRG proposed for Merseyside in 2014. This sets a Greater Manchester, and how this had been presentation showed how the Wirral Streetcar demanding schedule, but if Merseytravel and key to getting organisations such as the BBC satisfied all of these and responded to lessons the UK Government were as supportive as to move to the MediaCity development – learned from previous UK LRT schemes. the local council and industry, then he firmly another of Peel’s projects. He expected the Following strong green recycling principles, believed this could be achieved. Streetcar would do the same for Wirral Waters. the project has already acquired a number A lively Q&A session followed with many Importantly, the Streetcar would be of former Blackpool single-deck cars. It is sugesting that, if successful in the Wirral, green, affordable and community-based: a planned that these will be fitted with longer the streetcar could provide a basis for future range of funding would be used, avoiding underframes to provide a disabled-accessible developments across the UK. On the question the sometimes fruitless wait for central central section. The cars will then be of funding, one commentator drew upon a government grant. refurbished with new seats and other upgrades piece of advice from the US: “If you want to to meet current safety requirements. get on with something, don’t involve the Feds.” Streetcar: Plans from experience Merseytravel has rail left from the aborted Peel has already agreed to the establishment Scott McIntosh of leading multi-disciplinary Merseytram project, Peel is donating land of a Transport Fund from the planning consultancy Mott MacDonald, advisor to both plus the Dock Railway and transport operators money they would provide and the Streetcar Peel and Merseytravel, further explained the across Europe are offering equipment including was certainly transport. The importance of Streetcar concept, emphasising that this is not traction substations, , and machine tools. through-ticketing onto rail and ferries was a “big LRT project”, but instead intended to Educational and social institutions are also discussed and the securing of such a system, be a focused downtown circulator of the type offering to become involved so the tramway preferably by smartcard, was emphasised. successfully pioneered in the USA. becomes a way back into education and work The detailed presentation shows that Peel There are now over 30 such lines in for disadvantaged local youth. and its advisors have a clear vision of how the operation – with up to 60 more planned – the Merseytravel and Peel commissioned an Streetcar can form the transport backbone of most famous examples being Kenosha, San audit of the proposals from leading corporate Wirral Waters – and they deserve a chance to Francisco’s F line and the Portland Streetcar. finance specialists Deloitte in 2012. The show what they can do. It is to be hoped that European examples were not forgotten, report, received in December, says: “Reuse Merseytravel and the Department for Transport including Stockholm’s Djurgardenline, which of trackbed suggests that the Streetcar… show the same commitment. TAUT is growing from a small heritage line into a can be built cost effectively, without…the l We expect further progress in the coming real transport service for the city. high-risk construction and utility risks [of] months, and TAUT will report as they happen.

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In your next Student membership available online only. issue of Commercial members (12 issues) UK International £52.00 £64.00 LRV ORDERS TAUT’s annual round-up of Commercial members online only (12 issues) £41.00 major light rail vehicle orders around the globe, by Mike Taplin. Invoices available for Commercial membership only. For online payments visit: www.lrta.info/commercial Vic Simons reports on modern and heritage light rail developments Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms �������������������������������������������������������� from the city by the bay. Forename �������������������������������������������������������������������� SOUTH WALES LRT Surname ���������������������������������������������������������������������� Mark Barry argues for light rail in South Wales, building on the Address ����������������������������������������������������������������������� region’s main line electrification. ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� a greener future? ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� A vision for developing innovative low-maintenance, sustainable ...... Postcode ������������������������������������������������� green track tramway systems. I enclose a cheque £ ...... payable to ‘LRTA WORLDWIDE NEWS Subscriptions’ From Algeria to Vietnam, TAUT’s Please complete this form and send it with your payment to: worldwide news and analysis LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, provide essential reference points Sale M33 7AU, UK to keep you up to date.

92 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Sacramento Light rail’s value in Gold Rush City Vic Simons reports from the Californian capital following the opening of the first stage of the Green line to the Airport and its advanced plans for a streetcar urban circulator.

acramento was founded in the 1840s by John Sutter Above: Four-car Planning began for the first light rail line which opened and his descendants, and grew significantly as a trains at Archives in 1987, running for 29.3km (18.3 miles) from a huge result of the Gold Rush of the late 1840s Plaza in central park-and-ride facility adjacent to Interstate 80 at Watt andS early 1850s. This saw the foundation of a fort and Sacramento with Avenue in the northern suburbs. The success of the system accompanying agricultural and trading outpost that form CAF units leading. led to extensions opening to Mather Field Mills in 1998, the basis for today’s city. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park is Meadowview in 2003, Sunrise in 2004, Folsom in 2005, still a prominent city landmark and tourist attraction. and to Sacramento Valley station – providing links to The State Capital of California, the city is located at the AMTRAK and the Capital Corridor – in 2006. confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, lying June 2012 saw the opening of the first segment of approximately 140km (85 miles) north-east of San Francisco. the Airport line as far as Township 9. A more detailed From a background as a key wagon train, stagecoach and description of this and other future projects appears later. railroad interchange, the city’s first tramway operations Serving a population of approximately 450 000 in the began in 1870 with horse car operations being replaced city proper and 1.4 million in Sacramento County, RT gradually with battery cars for a short period before an operates 61.8km (38.6 miles) of light rail with 50 stations, extensive electrified network entered operation at the turn and 67 bus routes in its 669km2 (418 sq. mile) service area. of the 20th Century. The original tramway declined with There are also commuter express buses and Paratransit a small fleet of single truck cars eventually succumbing to services. Ridership of public transit has more than doubled replacement by diesel motorbus operation in 1947. since 1987. Throughout the 1950s and ’60s transit ridership saw steady decline and impetus for change was facilitated by Light rail routes the setting up of the Sacramento Regional Transit District Sacramento RT currently operates three light rail lines and (known locally as RT) in 1971 which became the main approximately 15% of the system is single track, mainly at transit provider in the greater Sacramento area; roughly the northern end of the Blue and the north-western end of today’s Sacramento County. By the end of that decade there the Gold line. All stations have ticket machines, timetables was a growing realisation that the motorbus would not and some have next train information. As Sacramento has meet all of the transit needs of the County and that transit All images taken on high-level boarding at low-level platforms with steps up to coverage was insufficient for the county’s wider population. November 2012. the LRVs, all stations feature access ramps for those with

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org march 2013 93 Sacramento

Above: Ex-San Jose UTDC cars stand in the yard at the Academy Way facility, still in their former owners’ liveries. These cars are being refurbished by Siemens at a cost of USD1.2m per vehicle, extending their useful life by 15 years. Left: CAF 236 approaches Roseville Road along the single track section. This is one of three stations serving the massive park-and- ride lot at the Northern end of the Blue line.

reduced mobility, with the exception of the inbound station at 12th and I Streets. Many stations have car parking and connections to the local bus services, not all of which are operated by RT. Headways are generally every 15 minutes, reduced to 30 minutes beyond Sunrise on the Gold line. There are reduced headways at evenings and weekends. Line 1 is known as the Blue line and runs from Watt I-80 to the city centre and then out to Meadowview in the south. The northern section was the original 1987 line. There are large park-and-ride lots at the northern terminus extending southwards in parallel with the light rail alignment as far as the third station southwards, at Roseville Road. The route is single-track from this point north to Watt I-80 which has a double-track terminal island platform. Beyond the terminus there are storage sidings used to stable Above and above a former railroad alignment to Sunrise. From here the route cars between the peaks. Four-car running is seen at peak right: Contrasting is single-track to the Historic Folsom terminus. periods, reduced to two cars in the off-peak, and single-car liveries – 106 Line 3, the Green line, currently comprises a short 3km running on Sundays. stands at the (1.9-mile) spur along 7th and 8th Streets to Township 9 At the northern end, the route runs parallel to the Meadowview Blue that opened in June 2012. Whilst there is only limited Business I-80 Freeway. Beyond Roseville there are a line terminus on commercial and retail development here at present, there is further two stations before a street-running section begins 1 November 2012 large-scale construction underway which when complete at Arden Way. There is an unusual running arrangement and a similar U2A will bring major increases in ridership. The Green line here in that the northbound track is segregated but the resplendent in the is the first segment of the planned line to Sacramento southbound track shares the street with other traffic. There International Airport. are a further three stations before the route crosses the new livery on the American River. The line uses a single track on a renovated same day. Operations and expansion ex-highway bridge, before running into the downtown area RT CEO, Mike Wiley, amplified this point toTAUT , on 12th Street and turning west on K Street. pointing out that there was a total of 64 acres of residential Until last year, at this point K Street was a Transit Mall and retail development close to the Township 9 terminal. serving light rail and buses, however during 2012 some of He considered that the June 2012 opening had been a K Street was re-opened to other motor traffic and only the catalyst for development and gave the example of the section between 7th and 8th streets remains pedestrianised. station at Township 9, with its all-encompassing roof, Through downtown Sacramento there is street running having been paid for by one of the property developers. complying with the one way system at 7th and 8th Streets Whilst the Green line was still a low ridership starter line where the Gold and Green lines join the Blue line as far as (there is only a 30-minute Monday-Friday with 13th Street where the Green line terminates. The Blue line no late evening or weekend operation) its potential when turns South at 17th Street and shares a freight alignment extended to the Airport cannot be emphasised enough. through another six stations to the Meadowview terminus. When asked about traffic signal priority in downtown Line 2, the Gold line, starts at the Sacramento Valley Sacramento, Wiley explained the system of timed priority Station. Here there are interchange facilities with AMTRAK for LRT. This means late-running trains have to wait until and the Capital Corridor regional rail route, together with the end of the cycle; priority is never guaranteed. bus connections. The short branch links with first the Green Another of Wiley’s more pressing tasks is the roll-out line on H Street and running south on 7th and 8th Streets and of the real-time passenger information systems – currently then with the Blue line at K Street. There is a spectacular available on bus services – to light rail by 2014. He overbridge at 17th Street where the eastbound Gold line explained that the delay in the implementation was due crosses the Blue line to Meadowview and a freight line. to the necessity of modifying the communications system From 17th Street the route heads east and then north-east on which identifies the train location.

94 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org On the subject of streetcars, the first route is to be the Above: Two-car There are reduced fares for seniors (over-65), disabled Riverfront line running in both Sacramento and West U2A units crossing passengers and students, all of whom travel for half fare. Sacramento. Wiley hopes this can be in operation within the 17th Street Prepaid ticket books and monthly and semi-monthly five years, but, as always, the issue is funding. Wiley overbridge bound passes are available for all fare categories; these provide pointed out that at 26% there was a comparatively high for Sunrise. convenience, but no discount. level of farebox recovery. In California there is a half-cent element of the State Sales Tax available for supporting Sacramento’s LRT fleet transport, of which 38.25% is for public transport – 4% of For the 1987 system opening 26 Siemens U2A LRVs were this allocation is for capital expenditure such as new buses, procured, with another ten vehicles added in 1991. These light rail vehicles and public transport infrastructure. are derived from the U2 vehicles first used in Frankfurt- Wiley also discussed the importance of the Capital Am-Main, Germany, in the 1970s and later brought to Corridor regional rail line to Sacramento. This route North America for the first modern LRT systems in Calgary provides the main transit connection to San Francisco in 1978 and San Diego in 1980. although an AMTRAK Thruway bus connection was These vehicles are 24.5m long, 2.69m wide and 3.8m required at Oakland or Emeryville. Alternatively, there is tall. In 1999 RT ordered 40 new CAF LRVs which were a transfer facility to BART () at delivered in two batches between 2000 and 2003; these Richmond for San Francisco and various destinations in units are 1.31 m longer than U2A cars. the San Francisco East Bay area. This route acts as a major All units have six axles, are doubled-ended and single commuter rail route into Sacramento. From Oakland the articulated using 750V dc overhead supply, and seat 64. route heads south to San Jose. Maximum operating speeds are limited by the California Summing up, Wiley considers that as the state capital State Public Utilities Commission to 88km/h (55mph), transit provider, RT must clearly demonstrate the benefits although both types are capable of running at higher speeds. of public transit: “It must be seen to be cost effective, In 2003 RT procured 21 UTDC LRVs (originally productive and not socially divisive,” he told TAUT. manufactured in Canada) from Santa Clara Valley There is a basic flat fare, as of December 2012, of Transportation Authority when that operator took the USD2.50 (EUR1.90). There is a requirement for this to decision to operate only low-floor vehicles in the fleet that be purchased using exact change on RT buses and from serves San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View and Campbell light rail ticket machines and is valid for two hours. – much of the Silicon Valley tech capital. Due to funding There are no transfers. At first sight, this looks draconian, constraints, it is only in 2012 that these vehicles are being however a day pass (USD6, EUR4.60) allows unlimited refurbished and made ready for service by Siemens under a travel on both bus and LRT and is available either in contract let in mid-2012. advance from a ticket agency, online, or on buses or from This refurbishment programme will extend the vehicle light rail ticket machines. life by around 15 years and is costing USD1.2m

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 95 Sacramento

(approx. EUR945 000) per vehicle. Compare this with the Below: SACRT map These 27m cars are slightly longer than the Siemens or USD4m cost (EUR3.15m) of a new equivalent LRV and it showing the central CAF vehicles, but a little narrower (at 2.64m wide) and offers an excellent value for money alternative to bolster city LRT alignments lower (at 3.4m tall). The single-articulated, double-ended the RT fleet. clearly, including vehicles can seat 75 and also have a maximum operating At the time of order, Siemens’ Rail Systems President the first stage of the speed of 88km/h (55mph). Whilst the CAF and U2A LRVs Michael Cahill commented: “This job is the ideal Green line, opened can work as coupled units, neither type can work with the opportunity to demonstrate that refurbishing light rail trains in 2012. UTDC vehicles. is a viable and cost-effective option to extend the useful life Courtesy SACRT All LRVs are garaged and maintained at the Academy of an agency’s existing rolling stock.” Way depot and maintenance facility.

96 APRIL 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Extensions and the streetcar project Right: Workshop There are two planned extensions. The first is the 6.9km contrasts at Academy (4.3-mile) southward extension to a new transit centre at Way, showing a Consumnes River College, close to Route 99. There will UTDC (nearest) and be three intermediate stations which can accommodate a CAF car. 2700 park-and-ride spaces and a parking garage at the new terminus. The USD270m (EUR212.5m) project is planned Below right: for completion in September 2015 and expected to meet the CAF Car 204 needs of a rapidly expanding area of the County. undergoing maintenance at Academy Road. Bottom right: Car 113 leading a two-car train of U2A vehicles headed for Meadowview at the 17th Street overbridge.

SACRAMENTO: THE CITY With a desert climate, Sacramento has hot dry summers and warm temperate winters. Snowfall is rare. Of interest to many visitors is the California State Railroad Museum with its impressive collection of trains from The second project is somewhat larger and will take the California and Green line through to Sacramento International Airport. the Western US With a planned 2021 opening date (subject to funding railroads. The State Capitol is agreements), the 16km (11-mile) line (continuing on from also well worth Township 9) will add a further 14 stations. At present a visit. the scheme is at the preliminary engineering stage and the projected line runs north from the present Township Tourist 9 terminus on Richards Boulevard along Truxel Road information: crossing the American River. It then turns northwest into the www.cityof Natomas Communities District before reaching the airport. sacramento.org The final cost is estimated at USD750m (EUR590m), but Public Transport this is subject to final review and various approvals. Information: The proposed streetcar project links Sacramento with www.sacrt.com West Sacramento. Starting from the Convention Centre it will share light rail tracks on K Street before crossing the Sacramento River on the Tower Bridge into the City of West Sacramento, terminating at the City Hall. This 3.5km (2.2-mile) scheme is still in the planning stage so that neither the timescale nor project cost is known, although early estimates suggest a budget of USD50-70m (EUR38-53.5m) could be realistic. TAUT

l Grateful thanks are due to RT’s CEO, Mike Wiley, and COO, Mark Lonergan, in their assistance in the compilation of this article and for their tour of the maintenance facility.

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42_TAUT1302_layoutpage.indd 1 28/01/2013 11:01

MetroRail 2013 Ad 210-297.indd 1 12/18/12 3:56 PM systems factfile No. 66 Dresden, Germany

GERMANY Neil Pulling reports on a very apparent commitment to DRESDEN expanding the scale and user appeal of public transport in the capital of the state of Sachsen (Saxony).

words and pictures by neil pulling

resden is characterised by visual splendours, vitality Marked as denoting Communist direction between 1945 and 1989; Dresden’s and an international outlook, remarkably so when the 60th of Dresden’s resurgence is certainly not entirely an outcome of national considering its modern history. Approaching 70 low-floor trams, re-unification. Against a trend of industrial retreat and Dyears after the event, the most common association with bi-directional depopulation, it is probably the most economically Dresden remains concentrated bombing raids very late NGT6DD 2593 passes successful of the former ’s major cities. in World War Two. Fully acknowledging German acts the Residenzschloss In 2011 there were 530 729 residents, an increase of 6 600 leading up to Dresden’s fiery fate in February 1945, the (Royal Palace), one over 2010. The forecast for 554 000 by 2025 influenced city authority says that “memories of the destruction have of Dresden’s great the modelling in Dresden’s transport plans. These support shaped the image of our city throughout the world.” restorations. light rail expansion with extensions to existing lines and as Restoration work, including the tramway and re-building entirely new routes. Overall ‘ Dresden 2020’ – Dresden as a transport hub, progressed steadily under identifying a EUR223m infrastructure cost – aims for two ➤

www.tramnews.net www.Irta.org march 2013 99 Systems Factfile

million extra public transport journeys annually, with four Emerging from route rationalisation and ensuing extra trams able to replace 30 buses. Due in 2014 is the modernisation that included new tracks and raised line first stage of replacing bus line 61, a heavily-loaded service speeds, twelve regular lines (numbers 1-13; no line 5) are across a southern arc of the city. New track via an S-Bahn now operated. All are substantial, with line 10 the shortest at interchange to be created at Strehlen will replace the 11km (6.8 miles); this includes the latest (May 2011) addition existing alignment north-west of Wasaplatz to Querallee. of 1.3km (0.8 miles) to reach the Messe trade fair site. At The city-owned public transport operator is Dresdner almost 30km (18.8 miles) and taking 80 minutes to traverse, Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB) with the motto Wir bewegen the longest is line 4 which extends north-west to the town Dresden – We move Dresden. Its bold livery first presented of Weinböhla, the only section outside zone 10 of regional in 1988 uses the rich yellow and black in Dresden’s emblem. transport body, Oberelbe Transport Network (VVO). As part of the bold approach to marketing its services, With railways converging on Dresden from several DVB defines and publishes standards that, if breached, directions and an S-Bahn service, stations other than the allow compensatory claims from passengers. This includes Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) just south of the centre add extra punctuality, response times to enquiries, and clothing having interchanges with the city network. Dresden-Neustadt on the to be cleaned due to dirt picked up from vehicles or stops. ’s north bank and Dresden-Mitte, both with adjacent tram routes, are also served by long distance and regional trains. network facts The city spreads around both sides of long meanders . Opened: 1872 (electrification from 1893) of the Elbe, with the larger part including the historic and . Routes: 12 business centre on the south bank. Buildings are set back a . respectful distance from the powerful river, with a wide flood Route distance: 134km (84 miles) plain and terraces creating impressive vistas. Trams cross the . Depots: 3 Elbe in four places, all near the central area from which the . Approximate weekday hours: 04.30-22.45, night service system reaches to outlying districts. Many of these retain the . Main frequency: 10 minutes atmosphere of separate small towns and villages rather than unmarked urban sprawl. Although central Dresden is mainly . Gauge: 1450 mm level, the tramway rises considerably in its outer reaches, . Power: 600V dc overhead supply which has influenced the specification of DVB trams. . Fleet: 166 low-floor DVB claims over 400 000 daily network journeys and . City Network: (VVO) over 700 stops. Dresden re-equipped with Czech ČKD- Tatra trams in the 1960s, with over 800 T4D/B4D vehicles . Area Network: Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (DVB) joining the fleet. Rebuilding in the 1990s improved INFORMATION Below: reliability and interiors. Replaced by the expanding low- . City network: www.dvb.de Marienbrücke, the floor fleet, their eventual withdrawal led to ex-Dresden . Area network: www.vvo-online.de most westerly of the vehicles passing in substantial numbers to fleets in North . Civic and tourist information: www.dresden.de tramway’s four Elbe Korea, Ukraine, Romania and Kazakhstan. Some remain crossings. in reserve or specifically for hire and tourism use. A former

100 march 2013 www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org Above: Busiest of the many stops on intersections, Postplatz is close to the commercial centre and several of Dresden’s architectural treasures.

Above: A restored relic of an early tourism boom, the Schwebebahn gives a panorama of Dresden and the Elbe’s flood plain. ‘Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe

Above: Dresden Hbf is a focus for city transport as well as regional and long distance rail services. (DVB) claims over 400 000 Below: Art and industry: the Zwinger palace is the backdrop for a CarGo tram passing daily network journeys and through Postplatz. over 700 stops’ the fleet

Replacement of the Tatras by 70% low-floor trams began in 1995 and was notionally completed by May 2010. Dresden’s regularly active fleet comprises a series of 2.3m-wide classes built in , about 50km (31 miles) east of Dresden. The first entered service in 1995-8, the five-section NGT6DD (2500 number series) from Siemens / DWA, later Bombardier. There were 47 models in the normal uni-directional Dresden configuration, and 13 (2581-2593) double-cabbed with doors on both sides. These can be used to cover temporary restrictions on access to turning facilities. Greater capacity arrived from 2001 with 23 seven-section NGT8DD (2700). The NGT6DD became the basis of Belgian De Lijn’s Hermelijn. Bombardier’s Dresden Flexity Classic also has two forms, overall delivered 2003-10. They are the longest in DVB’s low-floor passenger fleet, for 260 passengers, and the shortest for 171. Many of the 43 NGTD12DD (45m long; 2800 series) and 40 NGTD8DD (30m; 2600 series) feature names, mostly Saxon locations and international partner cities respectively. Promotional liveries, either on panels or all-over wraps, are carried. Dresden’s trams do not have air conditioning, a non-feature DVB justifies on grounds of necessity, cost and the environment.

www.tramnews.net www.Irta.org march 2013 101 Systems Factfile

dresden: essential FACTS driver training tram, T4D operates as ‘Lottchen’ for the Kinderstrassenbahn, an educational venture between DVB Local travel: Zone-based VVO; and the city youth office. most of the tramway sits within zone DVB’s core activities are the trams and 29 bus routes, but 10. Single tickets with one-hour it also operates ferries and the Dresdner Bergbahnen, two duration are EUR2; day tickets EUR5. hillside railways for which separate fares apply. Located City and Regio Cards are better than close together overlooking the Elbe north-east of the city usual value as tickets adding tourist centre, the Standseilbahn (funicular, opened 1895) and attractions to public transport; they Schwebebahn (suspended monorail, 1901) both supported also cover beyond zone 10 to the area’s tourism trade up to World War One. Weinböhla (detailed on DVB’s Intensive tramway coverage in the centre creates many website). DVB tickets are available line junctions and interchanges, with Postplatz the most from machines at stops, the main types Above: Leutewitz, one of several termini at are also available from machines an appreciably higher altitude than central important. This tram and bus hub is close to the modern aboard trams, from bus drivers and Dresden. Tram 2708 indicates a temporary shopping centre and one of the main groups of showpieces from DVB/VVO-signed agents. line 12 modification. like the Zwinger palace and Semperoper, the opera house. A What is there to see? The setting small Käseglocke (cheese cover) building from the earlier and a wealth of building styles help tramway formation was retained for staff training and as an make Dresden one of Germany’s most information point in this drastically restructured area. appealing major cities. River trips The layout was simplified to two vee-configured pairs from Terrassenufer. General transport of platforms. Each is long enough to accommodate several museum, Verkehrsmuseum at Neumarkt; trams at once, all covered by an elaborate steel and glass large tramway museum and heritage roof with an immense central beam. Intensely busy, with fleet base (www.strassenbahnmuseum- seven of the system’s 12 tramlines passing through and the dresden.de) nearest stop Trachenberger location of the main Kundenzentrum (customer centre), Platz. Narrow gauge steam railways Postplatz is also the exchange point for the night network. from Ost and Freital Including trams, this starts at 22.45 with an increasing Hainsberg stations. interval until around 04.30 when the day services build up. Here as elsewhere on the system, DVB buses and trams Above: Heritage share common platforms and service displays. fleet ČKD-Tatra Notable for its configuration of through and terminus 222 998 in platforms on two levels, main station Dresden Hbf is also a original livery, major tramstop. Multiple platforms spread around a complex appropriately set track layout that is one of the system’s busiest locations. against Communist- The system is mainly double track, with street running and era buildings near reserved space, the latter on sleepered, paved or grassed track. Dresden’s main central green space, the Grosser Garten, Strassburger Platz. is the location of the still active Parkeisenbahn. Very close Left: NGTD8DD to this former DDR children’s pioneer railway’s main 2603 at Wasaplatz, station and to Strassburger Platz is Volkswagen’s ‘Transparent Factory,’ the eastern end of the CarGoTram starting point for operation. Except for the termini’s dedicated sidings, what should be CarGoTram uses the main infrastructure to transfer Dresden’s next automotive parts across the city according to ‘just-in-time’ infrastructure demand using two 59m bi-directional vehicles, purpose- development. built in 2000 by Schalker Eisenhütte.TA UT Left: Dresden introduced the 45m NGTD12DD in 2003: number 2822 in picturesque Altpieschen on the Elbe’s north bank.

DVB’s large and comprehensive network maps are at www.dvb.de/en/ Routes-Maps/ Network-Maps

102 march 2013 www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org Advertorial Economical and fast installation of grooved rail track

STRAILastic products have for many STRAILastic_KFV is non-toxic and years provided an economical and fast thus requires no special storage or curing system for embedding on-street grooved arrangements. It adheres well to both rail rail for tram tracks. The range of encasing and road surfaces, with low shrinkage rubber units provide the appropriate level qualities and high elasticity, coupled with the of insulation between the rails and road ‘2-face’ seal feature to minimise the sinking structure – from the basic STRAILastic_L and strains that can leave a potential hazard to STRAILastic_P and all the appropriate and weakness of a ‘groove’ along a sealed accessories to locate and level the track. joint line. The recent addition of STRAILastic_W supercedes and improves on the performance Elimination of the flangeway of the premium STRAILastic_P system, groove and use of vignoles but without the need for separate compliant section rail elastomer inserts. Unlike an encapsulated In 2006 STRAIL unveiled the veloSTRAIL rail, the STRAILastic_W system offers level crossing. The first practical solution to precise lateral location of the rail but allows the problem of the flangeway gap where rails it to ‘float’ vertically with a substantial run in road surfaces. improvement in containing rail-transmitted A recent project in Geneva saw the Above: Immediately after the first mass concrete vibration. STRAILastic_P is installed on veloSTRAIL system installed for the first pour, trams begin running again in Hannover – note tracks running past the historic and sensitive time in grooved rail on-street tram track, the exposed caps of the baseplates still visible. Altes Rathaus in to provide the most as a retrofit at locations where cyclists and effective protection against vibration from other road users had been having problems passing trams. crossing the rails. The first trial of a retrofit to This system also provides for the rapid grooved rail took place in 2009 and this has delivery of tram services, because as soon since been delivered for further sites. as the rails are in place, and the alignment Some installations require the installation secured, trams can begin running with the final of standard Vignoles rail, in which case the concrete pour and surfacing detail completed option to use profilSTRAIL or standard during periods between daily services. STRAIL panels delivers an embedded rail The use of insulated tie bars sets the gauge system which allows easy rail removal or and deals with the problem of rails rotating in repair. As in Geneva, the track can be laid the transverse plane, which can cause failure using standard concrete rail sleepers and in the abutting road surface and break-up – as an in situ concrete pour that requires no noted in the UK’s ORR Guidance on tram additional formwork. This is especially track construction. useful where short lengths of track pass Concerns surrounding this particular through road vehicle apron areas in depots issue can lead to use of substantial concrete and freight yards, grooved rail needs to be foundations – which of course add to both specially acquired. time and costs for construction. Next month Above: Once STRAILastic_P is installed and alignment Trams can start running In relation to ‘green’ track systems, where a is complete, the first concrete pour is easily achieved. as soon as rails are laid permeable infill is used with normal sleepers Note how little street excavation is required. The STRAILastic system delivers the to hold the gauge and secure the rails, required track stability with the benefit of we’ll describe the various STRAILastic_R Below: STRAILastic_W is intended for areas faster installation, and sacrificial baseplates and STRAIL products that can be used for extremely sensitive to noise and vibration. The rail provide precise vertical and lateral off-street tracks – including the lightweight ‘floats’ on resilient elements below the head of the adjustment ready for the concrete pour. pedeSTRAIL system to provide under-run As well as the floating feature, the protection at tram stops, and the use of rail and above and under its foot, separating it from STRAILastic removable system offers STRAILastic_A to control noise. its surroundings. The resilience of each element may potential whole-life savings when compared be selected by the customer. to factory encapsulated rail. Welding and even rail removal and renewal can be delivered with all parts separable for re-use, recovery and recycling, without the need to cut back and repair the encapsulation and control the generation of fumes during welding operations. Separation of materials can also present significant issues in reclaiming materials after track renewal. We will come back to this in a future issue of TAUT. The closing seal can also be the detail which delivers the greatest call to be stripped back and reapplied. For the final poured joint filler to seal the gap between rail and road surfaces, STRAILastic_KFV has the useful feature that the curing rate is enhanced by water, and it can be poured over a wide temperature range from 3°C to 80°C, with operating temperatures between -40°C and 90°C.

Contact: +44 (0)1483 222090 or [email protected] www.strail.com

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org maRCH 2013 103

103_TAUT1303_STRAIL_advertorial_v2.indd 1 30/01/2013 15:27 Infrastructure costs Over-specification and simplifying to reduce cost David Gibson considers some of the opportunities to reduce tramway construction costs and overcome perceived challenges.

he cost of implementing tramways in the UK has Conventional tram track uses girder (or grooved) rail, escalated over the years, to the point where it now which by definition transfers vertical load so therefore appears that we are massively inflated when placed in does not need supporting across all of its length. It is comparisonT to the cost of new systems in mainland Europe. therefore unnecessary to have a massive continuous support Part of this is due to the ‘established’ thinking that street foundation. If such a foundation is used, the rail only really track has to be laid on substantial concrete foundations needs to be a running surface. Such principles were used and that all utilities have to be diverted. This latter case is in Eastern Europe, and indeed have also been used by often at enormous cost to the tramway promoter, while the Trampower with its LR55 rail. So far, this has only been utilities companies get new assets free. used on a short trial section on the Sheffield Supertram Slab track construction on many systems offers a number system on a crossing at Tinsley, but seems to be successful. of advantages in terms of low maintenance requirements, In The Netherlands, a very simple support of girder rail engineered noise and vibration characteristics (especially is used, in which concrete blocks support the rail, which important in urban areas) and – it could be argued – a themselves lie on larger area concrete slabs to take the load longer lifecycle cost for an installation over 25-plus years. into the subsoil, (largely sandy in Holland). The void is But the question of utility relocation and renewal is an in-filled, and the road surface brought up to railhead. interesting one. Should such significant utility works really This simple system has worked for decades, and come at the expense of a tramway budget, or should there produces a good, quiet ride, with less transmission of be a separate business case for this developed by the local vibration than with large concrete foundations. authority in partnership with the utility provider? One has to ask: Is all this really necessary? And, is it Utilities: To divert or not to divert? done everywhere else in the world? In my opinion, the We then come to the issue of utilities, and whether or not answer to both is no. Why then has this happened? Largely to divert them. Providers have statutory rights to place their I believe because the UK has lost the expertise to design equipment under roads in the UK, and to be able to access tramways, and many contractors have little experience of it. What they don’t have is the right to stop others also LRT schemes, taking their best practice from heavy rail putting equipment in the road, and this includes tram track. methodology. In a typically insular British way, they started The ground is designated ‘common user’. from scratch and took little notice of practice elsewhere. Large concrete foundations will largely preclude access, It can be argued that the privatised utilities firms saw and utility diversions will be required. However, open ‘simple’ this as an opportunity, and encouraged the creation of track allows access, so total utility diversion is not required. unnecessary standards. Not only utilities though, also It would, of course, obviously be undesirable to have track the fragmented rail industry, where tram tracks were in over large longitudinal pipes or sewer. In some countries, close proximity to rail lines. This caused another over- temporary surface tracks are used around major works. specification, on leakage currents, and a requirement that Using simple trackforms saves in two ways: reduced track needs to be insulated. construction cost in the first instance, and reduced utility Above: The outer terminus of the Rochdale route on the UK’s Manchester Metrolink, located in the town centre’s Smith Street, during the early stages of construction on 26 October 2012. Note the contrasting view of track construction compared to the pared-back Den Haag example. Mike Haddon

Above: Simple track construction in Den Haag. Concrete blocks Above: The setting up and alignment of a simplified track support the rail, while more substantial foundations spread the load construction system in Hannover on compacted subgrade ballast. across the subsoil. The void is in-filled and the road surface is laid on Again, concrete blocks support the rail. Notice how little of the street top, flush with the railhead.David Gibson needs to be excavated compared to some UK systems. STRAIL

104 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org ‘Tram track uses girder rail, which transfers vertical load so does not need supporting across all of its length.’ diversions. This may require more routine maintenance, of course introducing additional cost, but this is relatively simple work. If there is a failure of concrete foundations, it is very difficult to correct; the tramways in both Manchester and Croydon have had to rebuild such track. Current leakage: Potential solutions On the supposed issue of current ‘leakage’ and track insulation, leakage is caused by a voltage drop in the rails, causing currents to flow into the ground which can cause corrosion of underground metal equipment. There has become a requirement for an earthing mesh to be located under the track to divert such currents to earth Above: Utility work in Bielefeld shows the track being supported by a beam across an open at the substation, and to insulate the rails from their local trench while tramway services continue at reduced speeds. David Gibson

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org march 2013 105 Infrastructure costs

‘There has become a requirement for an earthing mesh to divert currents to earth at the substation, and to insulate the rails from their local earth. This seems a largely British obsession, and not common practice elsewhere.’ earth. Again, this seems to be a largely British obsession, and not common practice elsewhere. It must be remembered that this voltage drop, up to about 60 volts, represents an appreciable energy loss and should really be corrected by better electrical design. If the current demand of trams were to be reduced, so would the voltage drop. Modern trams are heavy, and use relatively inefficient induction motors; the use of permanent magnet motors would reduce currents, especially the high starting currents, where induction motors are particularly inefficient (see below). Some induction motor-fitted trams use about 100kW before the tram even moves. Ideally no power should be expended until the vehicle moves, producing mechanical energy. This again would be greatly improved if an energy storage mechanism was incorporated into the vehicle. This would smooth current demand, reducing peaks around ten-fold and allowing much greater recovery of regenerated energy on braking. As well as reducing track loss, it will also greatly reduce current in the overhead, so simpler, lighter construction could be used, reducing visual intrusion. Energy storage could be provided by supercapacitors, a growing technology which offer large amounts of energy storage at high power levels. Research and development has now produced examples that rival batteries in energy density, but will have a long life, unlike batteries. Lighter trams would help in all respects: does a tram have to weigh twice as much as a bus per metre length? More should be done to reduce weight and cost, which is presently Above and below: Two views of track construction in Nottingham, showing the much more about seven times bus cost per metre. Both can be reduced by substantial steel-reinforced concrete foundations that are common in modern UK tramway making the topology of a tram more similar to that of a bus; construction. David Gibson this can be achieved by using steerable wheels. To see this in action, look on YouTube for ‘Steerable Wheel-motors’. If we can simplify track, reduce construction costs and utility diversions and get lighter, more energy-efficient trams at reduced cost, the tram’s inherent advantage of low rolling resistance will come to the fore as the ‘greenest’ form of transport. TAUT DIFFERING MOTOR TYPES Induction, or asynchronous, motors produce their mechanical output in a somewhat indirect way. Electric motors produce a torque due to the forces acting on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field, and the force is the product of current, conductor length and field strength. In a permanent magnet motor, the field is produced by the magnet, and no energy is used in providing it (apart from the initial magnetisation). In the case of the induction motor, the field is produced by the stator, which has to magnetise the system, including the air gap between rotor and stator. This requires quite a high current, and whilst this itself is a quadrature or ‘Wattless’ current, it causes resistive losses in the winding. This magnetising alternating current then acts on the rotor winding like a transformer, inducing a current in the rotor, which acting with the magnetising field, causes torque. As in a transformer, this tends to de-magnetise the stator, so more current has to be applied to create balance. There are thus three main causes of losses, stator magnetising current, stator load current, and rotor load current. In a permanent the author magnet motor there is only stator load current (at higher speeds there are also iron losses in both motor types, again more with David Gibson is an electrical/electronic engineer, with many an induction motor.) years of experience in controlling electrical machines and in The efficiency of permanent magnet motors can be up to 97% power electronics. With a lifelong interest in electric traction, over a large load/speed range. Wheel-motors are available and as a keen tramway modeller, he has in more recent which incorporate such a motor as an integral part, and offer years looked at ways of reducing costs in tramways. such efficiency, direct to the rail, with no gears or transmission. This research led to the development of steerable wheel- This should allow over 60% recovery of traction energy during motors as a way of greatly reducing weight and the cost regeneration in urban duty. The high efficiency gives energy of trams by simplifying vehicle construction and improving recovery down to around 1mph. Run as synchronous motors, energy efficiency. Trials with full-size wheel-motors have they also offer full braking down to standstill. demonstrated the concept.

106 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Worldwide review ALGERIA

ALGIERS. A consortium of Colas Rail and KOU.GC has been awarded a EUR85m contract for a 4km (2.4-mile) metro extension to El Harrach, to be completed in late 2014. RGI CONSTANTINE. Tuesday 16 April has been announced for the start of tramway operation, with a fall-back date of 4 June. A. Senut ORAN. Dummy timetabled operation on the new tramway was due to start on 5 March, with passenger service due for the end of May. BS

ARGENTINA

BUENOS AIRES. The end of operation of the original Belgian-built wooden-bodied cars came on 11 January, when metro line A was shut down for three months for modernisation. A fleet of 45 new Chinese built six-car trains will provide service; 12 more ex-Madrid metro trains arrived before Christmas. On 10 January the government announced a USD506m order with China Southern for 409 1676mm gauge suburban EMUs for the Sarmiento and Mitre commuter rail lines. Friday 14 December saw the start of operation of the new extension of the Innsbruck tramway to Höttinger Delivery will run from February 2014 to Aue, taking trams across the Inn river bridge. M. Schneiderbauer November 2015. A. Bailey BELGIUM which will take an unspecified number for a new AUSTRALIA network incorporating the firm’s TramWave BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES. December saw surface current collection system. BS HOBART. A financial study of light rail the first two (4036/7) of the next batch of long proposals recommends a city centre to Flexity low-floor cars delivered; ten7700-series COLOMBIA Glenorchy first phase, with a later extension to trams have been advertised for sale, while Brighton. ‘The Mercury’ double-ended PCC 7052 has been scrapped. BOGOTA. The mayor of the Colombian Plans for the 3.3km (2.1-mile) extension from capital has launched a feasibility study with AUSTRIA Miroir to the Flemish University Hospital (UZ three engineering firms looking at 23km Brussel) show it served by route 9 operating (14.2 miles) of light rail along the main north– INNSBRUCK. As reported in TAUT 902, to metro interchange Simonis. Work on the south corridor through the city. A. Bailey the 2.3km (1.4-mile) extension of route 3 EUR50m project is due in early 2014. to Höttinger Aue was inaugurated on 14 Fares increased from 1 February: a five- CONGO December and provided normal service from journey ticket costs EUR7.70 and a day ticket 19 December. Some seven trams are required EUR6.50. tram-2000 GENERAL. A Belgian company is carrying to provide a 10-minute service between Amras CHARLEROI. It is planned to restore out feasibility studies for trams in Brazzaville and Höttinger Aue. passenger service on the rebuilt tramway to and Kinshasa. A. Senut The city has provided funding for IVB to Gosselies on 3 May. tram-2000 order 22 more trams as part of its plans for a new ECUADOR line O and a regional tram-train. This follows BRAZIL the signing of a partnership agreement between QUITO. The Inter-American Development the city, the province, IVB and IKB. R. Deacon SÃO PAULO. Prequalification bids have been Bank and the European Investment Bank have SANKT PÖLTEN – MARIAZELL. 16 invited for the construction of a rail link to the each approved a USD200m loan to fund the December 2012 saw a ceremony to welcome airport, as part of CBTM’s urban network with first 23km (14.2-mile) metro line, due for the first of nine Stadler-built three-section units an 11km (6.8-mile) branch off line 12. A. Bailey completion in 2016. Tenders have been invited for the 780mm-gauge light railway. It was for 18 six-car trains. A. Bailey christened ‘Stairway to Heaven’. EB CHINA WIEN (Vienna). Saturday 22 December EGYPT saw the extension of route 25 over the new CHONGQING. Friday 21 December saw the tracks in Tokiostrasse to become a 9.5km opening of a ten-station extension of metro line EL QAHIRA (Cairo). Hyundai-Rotem has (5.9-mile) line from Floridsdorf to Aspern 1, followed on 28 December by a three-station been awarded a EGP2.16bn (EUR244.4m) via Kagran and Stadlau. A six-minute peak extension of line 3. BS contract to deliver 20 metro trains to the frequency is operated. HONG KONG. MTR Corporation has awarded Helwan line in 2014-15. On 16 January French More trams sold to Krakow in Poland are Siemens a EUR80m contract to install CBTC engineering consultancy Systra signed a contract 4804 and 1209/76/77. Accident-damaged 4822 automated train control on its 47km (29.2-mile) to oversee the renovation of line 1. A. Bailey has gone to Katowice for spares. EB East line linking Hong Kong with the internal Chinese border. The work should be completed ESTONIA AZERBAIJAN by 2020 without interruption to traffic. Hyundai-Rotem has been awarded a TALLINN. The order for new trams from CAF BAKU. Tramway operation ceased in KKD4bn (EUR387m) contract for 37 nine-car has been set aside after a legal challenge from Azerbaijan’s capital city in 2004. Now there metro trains for the East Rail line, for delivery Stadler, and will have to be re-tendered. are plans to re-introduce trams between Azneft in 2015-20. A. Bailey Local residents have been issued with Square and the Zykh highway as an anti- ZHUHAI. The first customer for the joint smartcards permitting free travel on local public pollution measure. Turkish consultants have venture between AnsaldoBreda and CNR Dalian transport. Visitors must buy a smartcard for been brought in to develop the plans. abc.az for low-floor trams to theSirio design is Zhuhai, EUR2, and then load it with travel (one-hour

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 107 Worldwide Review

– EUR1.10, 24hrs – EUR4, 72 hours – EUR6. Sales offices are open 09.00-17.00. BS

FRANCE

AMIENS. The new tramway will be equipped with cars that will form a joint order with Caen, which is converting its TVR line to conventional tramway; 70 trams will be required. A. Senut BESANÇON. The city has brought the project opening forward to December 2014. CAF will deliver the first tram for homologation trials later this year. A. Senut CAEN. The new two-line conventional tramway replacing the TVR begins construction in 2015. TVR service will finish in 2017 and the new network should open in 2018 – 40% of the fixed equipment on the TVR will be re-used on the tramway. Further subsidy finance of EUR43m has been agreed towards the EUR300m cost of the project. A. Senut GRENOBLE. Tram 2026 is the first of the TFS2 cars to receive the new livery, mostly grey, with red doors. tram-2000 Early season snow at Am Steinberg sees new double-ended Flexity Berlin cars recently delivered by TOULOUSE. Work has begun on the 2.4km Bombardier at the M2 terminus. Ch. Hensler (1.4-mile) tram branch connecting line 1 to the airport. Service on T2 is due at the end of 2014. on football extras; driver training car 3539 has voltage cars. The entry into service of the latest The first of 19 new 32m Alstom Citadis been repainted in fleet livery. dual-voltage stock has been delayed awaiting trams for line T7 was handed over on 12 Dipl-Ing Georg Drechsler, BSAG general EBO approval. BS January. The vehicle is the first of 70 trams manager from 2007 to 2011, died on 20 KASSEL. A consortium of Hessische ordered for lines T7 and T8. The 11.2km (6.9- December after a long illness. Credited with Landesbahn and KVG has been awarded the mile) T7 between Villejuif and Athis-Mons is turning round the Bremen undertaking, Herr contract to operate tram-train service over DB due to open in December. Drechsler was fondly remembered in Karlsruhe, tracks from 8 December 2013, replacing the The public inquiry into the 6.5km (four-mile) where he had been chief engineer, and current DB operation. line T4 branch from Gargan to Clichy-sous- responsible for the implementation of the very KÖLN (Cologne). Rebuilt Stadtbahn-B Bois closed on 24 January. A. Senut successful Karlsruhe tram-train concept. BS car 2122 has been renumbered 2401; 27 more DARMSTADT. Open days will be held at the cars will follow, each taking 32 weeks to GERMANY museum depot Kranichstein on 9 and 12 May. modernise. BS Museum trams will provide a special service. BS KREFELD. SWK has exercised its option to AACHEN. On 19 December the city council DORTMUND. With the return of accident- purchase 12 more Flexity Outlook low-floor decided to go ahead with the Campusbahn light damaged Flexity tram 20 from repair by trams from Bombardier for EUR30m. Delivery rail project with a budget of EUR243m, subject Bombardier at Bautzen, all 47 of the low-floor will take place in 2014. BS to the results of a referendum in mid-March. trams are now in Dortmund for the first time. LEIPZIG. The operational tram fleet comprised BAD SCHANDAU. After more than two years The remainder of the operational fleet 272 motor cars and 43 trailers at 1 January. Four of repair work, the outer section of tramway comprises Stadtbahn-B high-floor cars 301-64 more low-floor trailers have since been acquired from Beuthenfall to Lichterhainerwasserfall and 401-10 (ex-Bonn). Some 20 more high- from to provide cover for an overhaul was re-opened on 14 December. M. J. Russell floor cars will be ordered this year. BS programme for the Leizig batch of 38. BERLIN. The opening of the 2.4km (1.5-mile) DRESDEN. The cable tramway at Loschwitz The tram museum at Möckern will be open extension to Hbf has been delayed to late 2015 was taken out of service for renovation work on 19 May, 16 June, 21 July, 18 August and due to associated road works. BVG would be from 2 January; the work is expected to take 15 September this year. A special service with ready to open a year earlier. Plans have been about four months. BS heritage trams runs between Hbf and the depot announced for trams to reach Ostkreuz S-Bhf DÜSSELDORF. The reconstruction of Jan- on each occasion. BS via new tracks in Sonntaggstrasse. Wellem-Platz, and in particular the dismantling MAGDEBURG. Sunday 27 January was the The first use of production Berlin Flexity of the road viaduct, has seen more diversions on official last day of operation with Tatra trams (T3 trams in double-ended mode involved 4009 on routes 701, 706 and 715. BS and T6), with five sets in operation on route 3 route M2 on 29 November. Delivery of these GERA. Tatra KT4D party tram 111 was 09.00-16.00, following which there was a Tatra cars reached 4013 by the end of the year. withdrawn in December and sold to Gotha. BS get together at the museum depot Sudenberg. DS The transfer of 42 withdrawn Tatra KT4D HANNOVER. The fleet at 1 January comprised MAINZ. The last new Variobahn tram (225), was trams to Szczecin in Poland started in 143 2000-class (2001-6/8-48, 2501-96) and 145 delivered by Stadler on 14 December. BS December. In January 16 withdrawn T6 trams 6000-class (6102/4-10/2/4-32/5-8/40-9/55- MANNHEIM. The start work ceremony for were shipped to Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine. BS 67/9-70/72-89/91-6260). The peak run-out is Stadtbahn-Nord was held on 3 December. The BOCHUM-GELSENKIRCHEN. Some ten 254 cars (125 2000, 129 6000). 6.4km (3.9-mile) line linking Gartenstadt is to Stadtbahn-M six-axle high-floor trams have Heritage trams in operating condition are open in December 2015. BS been sold to the Turkish city of Bursa. BS motors 129, 178, 239, 336, 478, 522, 604 and MÜLHEIM/Ruhr. The debate over the future BONN. The first two rebuilt Stadtbahn-B cars, 6001, and trailers 1034/9/63, 1464 and 1513. BS of the tramway continues, with the results of a 7456+7459, entered service as a coupled set on JENA. Gotha’s double-ended Tatra KT4D 105 consultants study discussed in the city council. route 16 from 16 December. BS has been moved to Jena as a works car. BS Changes will not happen until 2014. BRAUNSCHWEIG. The option for three KARLSRUHE. The tram fleet at 1 January The dispute between Mülheim and the additional Solaris Tramino low-floor cars comprised DWM eight-axle cars 124/5/99, 202- regional authority over the closed line to has been exercised, bringing the order to 18. BS 4/6-15, six-axle low-floor trams 221-65, eight- Flughafen also remains to be resolved BREMEN. The 800m tramway extension from axle low-floor trams 301-25, six-axle high-floor MÜNCHEN (Munich). A timetable change Nusshorn to Bahnhof Mahndorf will open on trams 501-20, eight-axle high-floor trams 551- in December saw the introduction of two 2 April. The 4.2km (2.6-mile) extension from 5/7-8/80-90, dual-voltage cars 801-17/9-930 supplementary tram services, 22 Karlsplatz – Borgfeld to Lillienthal-Falkenberg is due for and loaned Saarbrücken cars 1016/8/28. Hichschule (Lothstrasse) and 28 Sendlinger Tor completion at the end of the summer. Wegmann A total of 125 of the 144 trams are scheduled – Scheidplatz, operating Monday-Friday during sets 3524+3724 and 3530+3734 remain in use in a normal run-out, plus 113 of the 124 dual- the day. BS

108 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MER along with the three enclosed trailers. Included in the MER service duties was operation by tram 1 (119 years old) and ‘open toastrack’ 32. An afternoon strike was scheduled for 17 January when similar arrangements were put in place, including an approximate hourly service on the MER.

ITALY

BRESCIA. Friday 15 February was announced as the new date for the opening of the automated light metro. urbanrail.net GENOVA. The light rail line finally reached the railway interchange at Brignole, when the extension from De Ferrari was opened on 22 December. BS MILANO. A fleet of 30 new metro trains have been ordered from AnsaldoBreda in a contract worth EUR210m – 20 will replace older stock on line 1, with others relieving overcrowding on line 2. BS The first heavy snowfall in Jerusalem for 18 years saw trams in an unusual environment in the second week of January. B. Eichenblatt KAZAKHSTAN NAUMBURG. Although the Land has by the end of 2013. After six months’ remedial ASTANA. The new three-line light rail system, cut its operating subsidy for 2013, the city work, Airport Express metro service resumed equipped by Alstom, will be completed in council agreed to make up the shortfall, so operation on 22 January. ‘Hindustan Times’ time for the EXPO-2017 exhibition. Some 50 heritage tramway operation will continue KOLKATA (Calcutta). CTC put the first LRVs will be required. Tengri News’ through 2013. A five-ride ticket has been new-design four-axle bogie tram into service introduced for EUR6. on 24 December, claiming they would be faster MOROCCO OBERHAUSEN. The EUR77m project for the than the articulated cars that make up the bulk of extension of Essen tramline 105 to Oberhausen it fleet. The first car was not air-conditioned, but GENERAL. Following success of the new Neue Mitte has been approved by Oberhausen subsequent deliveries will be. The cars are single tramways in Casablanca and Rabat-Sale, city council. DS class, a 112-year first for Kolkata.‘Hindustan Times’ feasibility studies have been launched for PLAUEN. A Bombardier order for four more MUMBAI. Opening of the first 9km (5.6-mile) systems in Fez, Meknes, Marrakech and Flexity trams has been exercised, bringing the section of monorail has again been delayed, this Tangier. A. Senut total to 12. They will be delivered in 2014. BS time until August. The opening was originally RHEIN-RUHR. VRR ticket prices planned for November 2010. ‘Business Standard’ NETHERLANDS were increased from 1 January and a day ticket for zones A/B/C/D-E now costs IRAN AMSTERDAM. Eight-axle trams 785 and 810 EUR5.90/11.70/24.20/27.40. BS have been withdrawn. It has been decided that ROSTOCK. Four low-floor trailers stored since TEHRAN. Metro line 3 was opened from sneltram line 51 will be closed and replaced by autumn 2010 have been sold to Leipzig. BS Vall-e Asr to Sahid Beheshti (interchange with a tram service between Westwijk and Station SCHÖNEICHE. At the start of January historic line 1) on 16 December. BS Zuid operated with 45m low-floor cars. The motor tram 3 (sometime works car A93) was dual-height platforms through Amstelveen can taken to a steel firm in Görlitz for restoration. IRELAND then be dispensed with. OR Since 1 January the electricity used by the DEN HAAG. The section of tramway at tramway has come from renewable sources. BS DUBLIN. Despite the downturn in usage of Voorhout Centraal Station was closed from 6 STUTTGART. The Stadtbahn line from other modes in Ireland, use of Luas has again January for 12 months to permit renewal work; Löwentor to Hallschlag will open in the autumn, increased, with 300 000 extra journeys in 2012. tramlines 9, 15, 16 and 17 have been diverted. for line U12. The second phase through a 650m More than 29.4m journeys were made on the The last GTL trams on line 2 were operated tunnel to Münster (junction with U14) will network over the year, despite loss of traffic for on 2 January. All workings are now with follow in 2015. G. Wandel almost a week on the Red line due to a fire. RandstadRail stock. WOLTERSDORF. Gotha T57 two-axle tram Improvements in 2012 range from new UTRECHT (SUN). Tram 5018, damaged in a 33 (ex-Dresden 1578) returned to Woltersdorf walking and cycling routes, to improved signage, collision with a bus in September 2010, has been at the end of December after overhaul and better collection and drop-off areas at Luas stops, stripped for spares and scrapped in January. OR repainting in the Gera tramway workshop. a new mobile website and smartcard ticketing. During 2013 work will start on the link of NEW ZEALAND GREECE the Red and Green lines and the extension to Broombridge, with completion expected in WELLINGTON. A public transport study due ATHINA. Construction firm Themeli Attiko 2017. A survey of energy wastage will also be to report in April will assess the feasibility of a Metro SA has been awarded the EUR61m made to reduce energy costs. light rail link from Wellington railway station to contract to build the 5.4km (3.3-mile) tramway Kilbirnie. ‘New Zealand Herald’ extension from Faliro to Piraeus, for completion in February 2015. The project has been delayed NORWAY by four years while funding was arranged from /ISLE EU structural funds. OF MAN RAILWAY. Bus Vannin drivers BERGEN. The first tram to use the 3.6km Attiko Metro is to tender for 25 new trams, for took a three-day strike on 20-22 December. (2.2-mile) extension from Nesttun to Lagunen which it has budgeted EUR45m. ‘EnglishCapital.gr Although some bus services operated with ran on 6 December. Passenger services will start non-union staff it was decided to operate the on 21 June. INDIA and the MER rather than buses on their routes to and PHILIPPINES DELHI. The first eight-car metro trains were Ramsey. This involved timetabled operation operated on 24 December; 68 should be in service requiring seven trams to be operational on the QUEZON CITY. A monorail built on the

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 109 Worldwide Review campus of the university in Diliman had its first test run on 14 December. The line uses locally- developed technology. ‘Inquirer News’

POLAND

WARSZAWA. The European Investment Bank has granted a WUR139m (EUR33m) loan to support rolling stock renewal on the metro; 35 six-car Inspiro trains are on order from Siemens. Farewell ceremonies for the 13N trams were held on 5 January. A. Bailey, M. J. Russell

PORTUGAL

PORTO. This year’s annual tram cavalcade has been announced for 4 May. M. J. Russell

RUSSIA

KAZAN. The tram fleet has been renumbered: 1110-32, 121-24 (KTM-8M) ex-1025-70; 1225- 34 (Spektr 71-402) ex-1130-9; 1133-6, 1235-44 Testing has now begun on phase 2 of the system in Bergen, Norway – from Nesttun to Lagunen. Opening is (KTM-5) ex-1218-51; 1141-4, 1247-9 (LM-93) planned for 21 June. Bybanen Utbygging ex-1305-32; 1137-40, 1245/6 (KTM-19) ex- 1401-6 1100-9, 1200-9 (71-134) ex-1501-20. metro train rolled away from the depot near contract to supply five 100% low-floor trams by KOLOMNA. Ust-Katav has delivered KTM-23 the outer terminus, crashed through the stop February 2014. The four-section 42m cars will trams 027-32. Earlier articulated tram 001 has blocks at the terminus and partly demolished an have aluminium bodies. The tramway opened been scrapped after a fire. BS apartment block. Motor car 2887 was wrecked in 2010 with 16 AnsaldoBreda Sirio trams, but KURSK. Ten ex-Praha T3 trams arrived in beyond repair. ‘Dagens Nyheter’ is now experiencing overcrowding, with 17 December and are in service carrying their million passengers carried in 2012. RGI Praha numbers (7084, 7108/18/30/1/40/1/78, SWITZERLAND 7238/9. BS UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MOSKVA (Moscow). On 24 December AARAU (WSB). The last stock in orange livery metro line 2 was extended by 3.1km (1.9 has been withdrawn: Be4/4 10 and 13, and BDt DUBAI. The opening of the fourth airport miles) and one station to Alma-Atinskaya, 81 and 84. EA terminal (concourse A) on 2 January saw the and on 28 December line 3 by one station to BASEL. The last use of trailers on the BLT lines opening of the 1.5km (0.9-mile) Bombardier Pyatnitskoye. BS was on 1 December. 1317-19/21 have been sent automated peoplemover link to the existing SANKT PETERBURG. Metro line 5 was to Beograd. BS concourse B. extended south to Mezhdunarodnaya on 28 BERN – SOLOTHURN/WORB (RBS). A A 820m air-conditioned travelator link has December. BS new RBS station at Bern HB is to be built, under opened linking Burj Khalifa metro station with SBB tracks 2-7. The CHF520m (EUR420m) Dubai Mall. There are ten separate travelators SAUDI ARABIA project will be complete in 2025. along the link. M. R. Taplin, A. Bailey RABe4/12 47, the first of two batches of MAKKAH (Mecca). A metro plan worth LRV’s has been delivered by Stadler. BS UKRAINE SARR60bn (EUR11bn) has been approved to BIEL. The Regiotram project has been put back provide travel between the holy sites. A. Bailey by two years for financial reasons; work will KRIVYI RIH. Ex-Praha Tatra T3 7231/48 and now start in 2018. BS 7148 have entered the fleet as 069-71. BS SPAIN LAUSANNE. The first of five new LRVs is now ODESA. Ex-Praha T3 trams carrying being completed at La Borde depot and should their original livery and fleet numbers are ALACANT (Alicante). Light rail line 2 enter service as 218 in April. The steel body from 7030/56/61/3 and 7109-11/3/49. BS has not opened, despite completion of an engineering firm in Ticino was welded by construction works months ago. Vandalism is Bombardier at Villeneuve. Fitting out, including UNITED KINGDOM already requiring repairs to be made. Vossloh-Kiepe electrical equipment, is being Modifications are being made to El Campello carried out by a team of 12 workers from the BLACKPOOL. Introduction of the new depot to accommodate trains at present stabled MOB workshops. Unlike 201-17, 218-22 will Flexity 2 tram fleet has seen a considerable and maintained at La Marina. When the work not be fitted with supplementary diesel engines, increase in the number of passengers carried. is complete, La Marina will close. Service on and will thus be classified Be4/6. EB Between April and the end of November 2012, the Sanguetta – Puerta del Mar line passing the 2.9 million passengers were carried, with depot has already ceased due to low patronage. TAIWAN 562 000 being carried in October, the busiest A. Moglestue month. November, after the close of the tourist KAOHSIUNG. The metro Red line was season, saw the number of passengers drop to SWEDEN extended to Ganshan South on 23 December. BS 270 000 but projections for the 12-month period to the end of March suggest numbers will GÖTEBORG. As part of an improved public THAILAND approach the three million mark. transport package, related to the introduction This contrasts with the 2.3m passengers of congestion charging on 2 January, tramline BANGKOK. On 15 January the Silom metro carried during the last pre-rebuilding year of full 5 was extended 2.7km (1.6 miles) from Torp line was extended to reach Songjiang South tramway operation in 2008-09. System planning to Östra Sjukhuset over existing tracks of route railway station. urbanrail.net for the 2013-14 year is currently taking place. 3 and 1 and over a new triangular junction at EDINBURGH. Test running between Gogar Munkebäckstorget on 9 December. On the same TURKEY and the airport resumed in January; the final date a new 31km (19.2-mile) commuter train tram of the order (269) was delivered from CAF service was introduced between Göteborg and IZMIR. Light metro line 1 was extended from before Christmas. No decision has yet been Älvängen with six new stations. G. Zettermark Üçyol to Hatay on 29 December. urbanrail.net taken on what will happen to the surplus trams STOCKHOLM. A cleaner was seriously SAMSUN. The municipality has awarded following the reduction in scale of the tramway. injured on 15 January when a Saltsjöbanan CNR Tangshan Railway Vehicles a EUR7.5m Progress on completion of the line is still

110 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Washington area, which is seeking connection to the Metro system by re-activation of the disused Leamside railway line. SOUTH EAST WALES. The Welsh Government is setting up a task force to drive forward plans for a new transport system in South East Wales. Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant has asked a group made up of interested business and transport partners to make early recommendations for a rapid transit system for South East Wales using rail, light rail, bus and active travel, to build on the South Wales Main Line and Valley lines rail electrification schemes. The group will work with the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) to provide recommendations. WEST MIDLANDS. Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, has entered a new agreement with National Express, operator of Midland Metro, covering increased frequencies following the delivery of the new fleet of CAF trams, the introduction of smartcard The first Bogdan843 low-floor tram from Belkommunmash to be delivered to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was technology and the refurbishment of existing running trials in January. Techniman stops. It also promises improvements to safety and security, more park-and-ride facilities, and ahead of schedule, with an opening in summer The last of the main order of M5000 trams, enhanced links with bus services. 2014 still anticipated. Full route tram testing is 3062, arrived at the end of 2012. The next The agreement confirms National Express as now scheduled to begin in spring 2014. deliveries will be from the batch of 32 trams operator of the line, plus its city centre extension LONDON (TRAMLINK). Tram services ordered to replace the original fleet. in Birmingham, for the next six years. Over on new service 4 have been disrupted due to NOTTINGHAM. A number of existing GBP128m (EUR152m) is already committed technical issues with the new fleet of Stadler stops on the Nottingham Express Transit tram to be spent on the new trams, an extended Variobahn trams, meaning fewer trams in network are being prepared for a programme of maintenance depot at Wednesbury and the city service than scheduled and seeing the service improvements. Work has started at Shipstone centre extension to New Street Station. completely withdrawn at least once. Street, Radford Road and Noel Street and will The agreement will also look forward to GREATER MANCHESTER. Extension of continue at other stops over coming weeks. further extensions to the Metro network, with the Metrolink Oldham Mumps service to Shaw It is also intended to refurbish the existing Centenary Square and the High Speed Rail & Crompton has seen an increase in passengers fleet of trams (which are now more than ten station in Birmingham plus the Wednesbury using the Oldham line. Park-and-ride sites are years old) during coming months to ensure they to Merry Hill and Stourbridge line being available at Shaw and Derker, with the latter have comparable standards to the new fleet that specifically mentioned. station seeing its facility being expanded. will be delivered for the extensions. In relation to the Merry Hill proposals it is Testing beyond Shaw towards Rochdale station Extension work is continuing with emphasis now clear that Centro does not expect the line continues with three trams being ‘out-stationed’ in the next few weeks on the Beeston section. to be provided in full initially. It is looking at at Milnrow. It is hoped the service will extend to . Nexus has ways funding can be raised from Wednesbury Rochdale station soon after the opening of the issued a progress report after three years of the to Dudley in connection with regeneration Droylsden line on 11 February. Metro: all change modernisation programme. proposals for the town. As a second phase the A full-scale trial of tram operation during a During 2013 Nexus expects all stations to have line could extend to Brierley Hill and later major football match at the Etihad Stadium received new ticket machines along with barrier possibly to Stourbridge. Centro and its partners on the Droylsden line was made on 5 January, gates at the 13 most important stations – allowing are suggesting that funding from business rates although the trams operated without carrying the roll-out of the Pop smartcard system. It has from new Enterprise Zones in Wolverhampton passengers. A passenger-carrying trip has spent GBP152.5m (approx. EUR181.6m) on and Darlaston would cover some of the costs. been made to Droylsden for members of the the system so far with ten stations refurbished or Transport for Greater Manchester Disability underway, 18.5km (approx. 11.5 miles) of track USA Design Reference Group, who rode a test tram renewed or refurbished, 17 bridges repaired and along the line to inspect new stops and evaluate a new Metrocar wash along with a wheel lathe BALTIMORE, MD. The final environmental how they met the needs of disabled people. installed at the Gsoforth depot. report on the proposed east–west light rail line The ongoing dispute with Thales over the By December 35 trains will have been puts the cost at USD2.5bn. Work should start in new Tram Operating System is still causing refurbished (just under 40% of the programme). 2015 and be completed in 2021. E. B. Havens issues with commissioning the new lines with, Also proposed for this year is bridge BUFFALO, NY. A new study is to examine the for example, the St Werburgh’s Road to Shaw replacement at Carville Road, Wallsend, plus feasibility of extending the light rail line beyond & Crompton service operating under different associated works to the track between Byker its northern terminus. E. B. Havens regimes along its length, including interface and Tynemouth, with point motor replacement DALLAS, TX. The Federal Railroad with Network Rail on the single-track section. at various locations scheduled for February to Administration has approved a USD120m loan The Piccadilly station area has also caused April. replacement from Hebburn to DART to help finance the extension of the some operational difficulties with closure of to Gateshead Stadium is to take place in April. Orange light rail line from Irving to DFW airport. the section for upgrading required on Sunday Nexus has indicated it is investigating what A regional transportation panel has approved mornings during January. will be required to improve public transport USD100m to allow the purchase of 20 diesel Consultation has started for the new stop across the region in the next decade. It says it LRVs for the proposed TEX Rail/Cotton Belt proposed at Queen’s Road, close to the original still sees the possibility of Metro expansion line linking areas of Fort Worth with DFW. depot. Trams frequently make stops at a service or the provision of a city centre tram network, DENVER, CO. Light rail testing on the Golden platform at the depot for staff changes and other including the potential for a new tram-train line started on 3 January. Passenger service is official reasons but only the front door of a tram line to the West End of Newcastle, a section of planned to start on 26 April. C. Lietwiler can be released. Now a full stop is to be provided, Tyneside not connected to the Metro system. GALVESTON, TX. More than four years which will become the first northbound from Some nine new lines – using a mixture after Hurricane Ike flooded the depot of the Victoria on the Bury line. TfGM submitted a of trains, trams and bus rapid transit – have diesel heritage tramway, putting the line out of planning application in December last year, been considered by the Integrated Transport operation, a consulting firm is due to report to with a decision expected in early 2013. Authority. Pressure is still being exerted by the the city on the feasibility of repair. E. B. Havens

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 111 Worldwide Review

KANSAs CITY, MO. The mail-in vote by The two ‘PSU South’ stations was always the Great North Festival of Transport, including property owners on creating a special tax district planned, but construction was delayed by the Great North Steam Fair (11-14 April). to help finance the proposed tramway saw 64% redevelopment of that city block, which now CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE (UK). in favour. There will also be a 1% sales tax hosts a new 16-storey apartment building. The Tramway Museum Society board has increase. E. B. Havens The first of the production batch of trams considered proposals from other organisations LOS ANGELES, CA. LACMTA has from United Streetcar (21) was delivered on to meet the costs of restoring iconic trams LCC authorised a budget of USD6.78m to fix 22 January, but won’t be ready for passenger 1 and Glasgow 1282 to serviceable condition. defective rail infrastructure at the junction of service until March. When it and the second The London County Council Tramways Trust the Blue and Expo light rail lines. The rails were are available for service, they will replace the will raise funds to meet the cost of restoring laid slightly out of gauge when the junction was prototype, which will be returned to the factory car 1 ‘Bluebird’, while the Scottish Tramway installed two years ago. to have a new traction system installed. & Transport Trust has launched a fundraising Work has started to build a new USD160m Two of the Gomaco replica trams once appeal to secure the restoration of Glasgow depot for LRVs at Monrovia on the Gold line operated on the Portland Streetcar (513/4) line Coronation 1282. extension from Pasadena to Azusa. E. B. Havens are to be leased to the city of Lake Oswego, STUTTGART (DE). Former Esslingen MINNEAPOLIS – ST PAUL, MO. AECOM which plans to resume tram trips on the southern – Nellingen – Denkendorf motorcar 13 has been awarded a USD16.8m contract for section of the former Shore Line, between has returned from the Ferrovia del Renon preliminary engineering on the third light rail Lake Oswego and the trestle north of Elk Rock (Soprabolzano – Collalbo) in Italy, after line, to Eden Prairie. E. B. Havens Tunnel in spring 2013. S. J. Morgan, E. B. Havens standing disused since arrival there in 1982. NEW YORK, NY. The R subway line resumed SAN DIEGO, CA. Construction of the 17.6km The car is now a restoration project by SSB at operation between Manhattan and Brooklyn on (10.9-mile) Old Town – La Jolla light rail Bad Canstatt. J. Zimmer 21 December, following flood repairs.E. B. Havens extension is estimated at USD1.7bn, a price that EAST HAVEN, CT (US). The Shore OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. The city is planning includes 22 more LRVs. Green line extension is Line Trolley Museum has been awarded a a city tramway circular using USD120m in planned for construction in 2015-18. E. B. Havens USD10 000 grant by AT&T to fund student sales tax funds that voters approved for urban SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Muni). Double- training in railway technology. Students from redevelopment. Jacobs Engineering has been ended PCC 1009 entered service after Gateway Community College will complete a appointed to study possible routes. E. B. Havens rehabilitation by Brookville on 17 January, 120-hour internship at the museum. E. B. Havens ORANGE COUNTY, CA. The city of painted in the colours of the Dallas Terminal FORT COLLINS, CO (US). Volunteers Santa Ana is working with Orange County Railway colours. E. B. Havens expect to have a second Birney car restored Transportation Authority to develop a tramline TUCSON, AR. Continuing anticipated delay for operation on the heritage tramway within to Garden Grove, using the right of way of the with the delivery of the trams ordered from a couple of years. Car 25 came back to Fort fomer Pacific Electric interurban, abandoned in United Streetcar make it likely that the opening Collins from Charlotte, but was originally built 1950. E. B. Havens of the new tramway for passenger service for Richmond in 1922. E. B. Havens ORLANDO, FL. American Maglev will slip into 2014. The first should have been Technology Inc has been given conditional delivered by now, but the contract is running CONTRIBUTORS approval to develop a maglev transit line linking eight months late. E. B. Havens the airport and convention centre. E. B. Havens WASHINGTON, DC. Testing the Inekon trams Worldwide items should be sent to PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). Due for the H-Street/Benning Rd line should start in Worldwide Editor Michael Taplin at Flat 1, to a shortage of capital funding, SEPTA is March using track laid in Anacostia. Passenger 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 threatening to close the Norristown line north service is likely to start in early 2014. E. B. Havens 6EA, UK – Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or of Bridgeport where there is a deteriorating [email protected] 101-year-old steel bridge that needs replacement MUSEUM NEWS UK and Ireland items are welcomed by the at a cost estimated to be USD30m. A 15mph News Editor, John Symons, 17 Whitmore speed restriction is already in force. E. B. Havens BASEL (CH). Birsigtalbahn trams 7, 52 Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, PHOENIX, AR. A ground-breaking ceremony and 202 have been returned from the aborted UK. E-mail [email protected] was held on 12 January for the 5.1km (3.2-mile) Ecomusée project in France. BS Contributors include Mike Ballinger and north-west light rail extension from Montbello BEAMISH (UK). The tramway should receive Mike Haddon.Acknowledgements are also due to Dunlop Ave. E. B. Havens two visiting tramcars for its 40th anniversary to abc.az, Birmingham Mail, BS Blickpunkt PORTLAND, OR. We have not previously event, to be held between 4 and 7 April. The Strassenbahn, Business Standard, Dagens recorded that on 2 September, a pair of new Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society is Nyheter, DS Drehscheibe Strassenbahn, MAX stations opened on existing Green/Yellow expected to send Lisbon 730, while the Heaton DLR, English Capital.gr, Hindustan Times, line tracks at the south end of the city centre, Park tramway will receive Blackpool 31 in Irish Times, Manchester Evening News, New extending service about 300m southwards, to exchange for sending Stockport 5 to Beamish. Zealand Herald, Nexus, Nottingham Evening Jackson Street. The event will feature a spectacle of trams Post, OR Op De Rails, RGI Railway Gazette For the first three years following the 2009 rather than one particular subject and include a International, Tengri News, TfGM Transport opening of this route section, passengers were model tramway exhibition on 6-7 April as well as for Greater Manchester, TfL Transport for not permitted to ride south of Montgomery St, launches of a book and DVD. Other trams may London, The Mercury, The Scotsman, TMS, and MAX trains ran empty for the last 300m. visit and most are likely to remain at Beamish for tram-2000 and Wolverhampton Express & Star.

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112 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org [email protected] +44 (0)1832 281145 Letters Letters should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. Get your views into print We reserve the right to shorten all contributions for publication.

Jerusalem LRT and more on the security issue Imagine my amazement to open my copy of TAUT 901 to find a blatant piece of political propaganda spread across the front cover! Whatever possessed the editor to accept this article in the first place? What next, an article extolling government security measures against ‘terrorists’ in Syria, Iran, Bahrain, China or the former Soviet block? As far as ‘terrorism’ is concerned, the former British mandate in Palestine was battling terrorist groups sent from abroad, the two most notable being the Irgun Gang led by Menachem Begin and the Stern Gang lead by Abraham Stern, both involved in numerous atrocities against the indigenous population – the Deir Yassin massacre being the most infamous. The ideological heirs to these Israeli ‘heroes’ are the ones running the country today – with many of the same methods. As for the Israel Defence Force mentioned Jerusalem's Jaffa Street, showing how the light rail system is bedding in with the city. David-Lloyd Klepper in the article, what can one say? Worse still, articles such as this also to be the station for the high-speed Ed: We always believed this article may contribute to American-Israeli post line to Tel Aviv, with the skyline showing spark debate, however the security and 9/11 hysteria and the ongoing war on the light rail ‘Bridge of Springs’ and the safety of the passengers, operators and the Muslim world. Not only that but Jerusalem Congress and Convention those in close proximity to any modern the police state mentality which curbs Center, also the Jerusalem concert hall transportation system is a key issue. individual liberties… Shame! for the Israel Philharmonic to its left. The piece from Mr Ohrenstein covers Carl V Ehrke, Canada But this is not typical of the changes many of the issues any transport operator the LRT construction has provided for faces and addresses them with the Transforming Jersualem downtown Jerusalem, as shown in my particular strategies used in a city that Simcha Orenstein’s article on the security image of Jaffa Street (above). has the added complexities and challenges issues surrounding the Jerusalem LRT Incidentally, the supplement on generated by a particularly charged system in TAUT 901 was excellent, and Docklands ‘Light Railway’ is similarly environment where the threats posed are I personally feel very lucky that he is excellent, very worthwhile reading. But invariably greater. the boss of our system. I use it whenever how can DLR still be called light rail? It The ‘terrorist’ threat in the modern world practical, not convenient to my regular shares all the characteristics of heavy rail: is inescapable for any transport operator. commute, but still averaging about two segregated right of way, level boarding Remember, atrocities have been committed or three enjoyable trips a week. at high platforms, third-rail power, and against mass transit systems across the I would think readers would like to now the latest equipment has end doors globe as they are perceived as easy targets know the locations of the two photographs. permitting staff to walk from car to car. for maximum damage and disruption. The cover and page 25 show Safra The six-axle cars are probably heavier We absolutely stand by the decision to Square, looking from City Hall toward than Chicago's four-axle cars. In my publish this interesting and informative the Old City's Jaffa Gate, and page 27 view, DLR is no more light rail than piece and its insights into how one operator west of the Menahim Yehuda Market Chicago's CTA or Vancouver’s Skytrain. is protecting its staff and passengers toward the Central Bust Station. This is David-Lloyd Klepper, by e-mail against this ever-present threat.

Adelaide Systems Factfile • The Glenelg line was the sole remaining required weren’t going to be available for the My attention has been drawn to an article tramway from 1958, not 1963. Buses opening of the extension to the Entertainment about Adelaide in the January 2013 issue of replaced trams progressively from 1953 Centre, but the Citadis, being surplus TAUT (901), allegedly co-authored by me to1958. to Madrid requirements, were available but which I have never seen. Regrettably it • Ticket machines are located onboard trams immediately. The Citadis trams, when not contains a number of factual errors, the most (and trains). covered in all-over advertising, are still significant of which are: • The Goodwood flyover was built in 1929; painted in the attractive Madrid livery. • The photo on page 19 was not taken by me. the new flyover is at South Road. Ian Hammond, by e-mail • On the map, the name of the Glenelg • The last Flexity, 115, was delivered in 2012, terminus should be Moseley Square. not 2010; the remaining H class allocated to Further Adelaide information • MTT first introduced in 1937 Glengowrie (nominally for shunting) are 351 The interesting Adelaide factfile in TAUT 901 (not 1950) replacing the Port Adelaide and 367 (though they have been removed contains some points which deserve comment. tramways and linking that area to the city for some restoration). The isolated Port Adelaide tram system and eastern suburbs, and MTT then replaced The real reason for purchasing the Citadis closed in 1935, and was partially replaced more eastern suburbs tram routes in the 1950s. trams was because the four extra Flexity trams by trolleybuses. On the main system, after

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 113 the time of Charlie – the song, not the stored- I suggest the Light Rail Transit Association, value card. He seems to accept, or to have as an expert body, advise them of the missed, the operating practices that render possibilities – indeed, the need – for speeding Boston ‘trolleys’ the slowest in the US. up service as in my experience there is only one On a recent Green line ride, the operator city that operates trams more slowly: Calcutta. was required to enter every grade-level Also, compliments on your excellent crossing at 8mph (13km/h). He persisted at review of the Dubai Metro. I visited there that speed until the entire two-car train was in February 2012 and there are really clear. He then slowed to walking speed at the three classes of passengers, two pay rates: near end of every platform, and proceeded at Gold Class and others. The extra class of that pace, regardless of visibility or number passengers is “families” who reside in the car of waiting passengers. When I asked him why behind the leading, leather-seated, Gold Class the ride was so slow, he was incredulous. As car. No men allowed. An onboard attendant an aviation safety expert, I can conjure no enforces this segregation, typical of every reason for these restrictions. social institution in the mid-east. Adelaide Flexity 113 on the South Road flyover that Speeds are posted 25mph (40km/h) The absence of a driver invites Gold Class opened in 2009 – 5 November 2012. Richard Horne underground, compared to 40mph (64km/h) passengers to enjoy the superb view out the in Philadelphia’s streetcar subway, and 55mph front. The interior views show another design initial replacement of three tram routes by (88km/h) here in Portland’s Sunset tunnel. feature: no handholds. The acceleration/ trolleybuses in 1952-53, the remaining routes When the Riverside line opened in 1959, PCC deceleration rates are programmed to were converted to motor bus operation from speeds were 40mph. Then the excellent – if be gentle enough to allow free standing. 1953-58, not 1958-63 as stated in the article unreliable – Boeing cars operated at 55mph. Conversely, this translates into somewhat – it was the trolleybuses that succumbed to Now the speed is back to 40mph. extended travel times, as does the apparent motor buses in 1963. Hence the Glenelg line On the newly-constructed subway at North top speed of about 80km/h (50mph) was the sole survivor from 22 November Station, curves are marked 3mph (5km/h), Nonetheless, this is arguably the best 1958, when the last ‘streetcar’ line closed. and red light stops are frequent between transit experience any place on the planet, in The flyover on the Glenelg line at stations. Similar ‘safety stops’ persist every any mode. An attraction in and of itself! Goodwood is a reconstruction of that built for few hundred feet in the subway, despite Geoffrey W. McCarthy, Portland (USA) the conversion of the railway to tramway in clearly visible signals, and, I assume, 1929, replacing a former flat railway crossing. braking reliability equal to any contemporary Where will the money come from? More significantly, following the LRV. Why? Howard Johnston's report from the UKTram refurbishment of the line and the introduction Your correspondent apparently didn’t summit (TAUT 902) is indeed timely and of Flexity trams, has been the construction of a sample the Silver line, the hybrid bus subway. his question ‘Where will the money come second flyover. Opened in late 2009, it crosses Built a few years ago, it too has 15mph from?’ lies at the heart of it. Yet when I raised the arterial South Road and incorporates a (24km/h) speeds and numerous unnecessary this point at a Light Rail Transit Association stylishly designed stop at its summit. intermediate halts. The hybrids are noisy, meeting in Manchester on 27 September I In May 2012 the State Government uncomfortable, inelegant and slow. A was taken to task for ‘rocking the boat’ by ‘suspended’ its ambitious project to electrify billion-dollar busway, where a light rail line mentioning finance at all. the suburban rail network, save for the line to should have been. This was because I dared to point out that Noarlunga, work on which is well underway. He also missed Boston’s over-manning: finance was at the heart of tramway decline in Although work had commenced on the Gawler even with a stored-value system, every car of the 1920s and early Light Railway Transport line, it will now remain diesel operated. a two-car train has an operator, ostensibly to League (LRTL) campaigning largely ignored Richard Horne, South Croydon (UK) collect fares. Not a conductor, an operator. If financial questions, particularly those the front entry-only plan is activated, riders concerned with the renewal of infrastructure. Issues in Boston; Dubai excellence may expect even slower progress inbound on I also suggested that the Association in future Mr. Buckley’s recent report from Boston the Green line. Better to buy a bicycle. needed to give more attention to funding, (TAUT 900) focused on the periodic fiscal Boston, in my view, operates as it did in the even in times of relative affluence. crises that are routine. As a lifelong student of ’90s… the 1890s, far slower than in the 1950- The extent to which LRTL campaigning trams, I have ridden this system since before ’60s, despite massive Federal investment. was not taken seriously by transport

Westminster Watch problems installing the new system emerged He ordered Thales to release the documents Paul Rowen, former MP in September 2010, Metrolink Director Philip to an independent adjudicator who, having for Rochdale and first Purdy said: “The problem is that the new examined half the claim, has ruled that TfGM Chair of the UK’s All-Party system is as advanced as the current system is should pay GBP700 000 (EUR821 000). Parliamentary Light Rail Group old, so it’s a bit like connecting your modern Local MPs and Councillors were furious. PC to a Commodore 64 and making them Manchester Withington MP John Leech, work together at this high level.” The high- Chair of the the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Whilst the problems with Edinburgh Tram tech system uses computers and sensors to Light Rail Group, said: “It is frustrating when have been well-publicised, those with control the points and signals, and to pinpoint delays take place and contractors and TfGM Manchester Metrolink have, until recently, the location of trams to within a few metres. end up in court fighting like ferrets in a sack.” been largely unremarked. The authority took Thales to court over Blackley MP Graham Stringer added: “It’s The GBP1.4bn (EUR1.6bn) project – an alleged refusal to provide documents an absolute fiasco. If it turns out that TfGM Metrolink phases 3a & 3b – is months behind to support its claims for more money, and have specified the contract incorrectly, heads schedule with only one third of the‘Big Bang’ accused the firm of “aggressive tactics”. should roll. If it’s the private sector that’s at so far operational. Just why became apparent TfGM blames Thales for failing to put fault, then they should cough up.” before Christmas when Transport for Greater sufficient resources and expertise into the Regardless of who is at fault, this is a Manchester took contractor Thales to the project, while Thales claimed the problems flagship project for the UK’s industry. If we UK’s High Court. had been caused by changes from TfGM. want to see more towns and cities adopt light In 2008 Thales won the GBP22m Mr Justice Akenhead, in a 64-paragraph rail we cannot let this dispute drag on. (EUR25m) contract to fit the new Tram judgement, said: “If, as asserted by Thales, the Edinburgh has caused immense damage Management System and recently demanded project has and will cost GBP42m more than to the UK’s light rail growth prospects, a further GBP42.3m (EUR49.6m) as both it was priced for, something has gone seriously Manchester has until now been a success. It sides blamed each other for the delays. When wrong, leaving aside whose fault it is.” must remain so.

114 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org professionals may well have reflected the extent to which the LRTL seemingly ignored one of the fundamental dimensions of the Obituaries tramway business. Whatever else we do, we need to avoid Philip Groves (1937-2012) Derek Hyde (1927-2012) falling into that trap again, by taking finance seriously along with political and social issues, An early member of the Light Rail On 21 June, the death occurred, at the age now and in the years to come. Transit Association, Philip Groves of 84, of Derek Lomax Hyde. He pursued Ian Yearsley, London (UK) was a distinguished transport manager a career in public transport that included whose career unusually extended to both management of no fewer than four Buenos Aires La Brugeoise cars municipal and company operations, to municipal transport undertakings. I am writing from the Asociación Amigos del motor buses and trolleybuses and to both Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tranvía from Buenos Aires, Argentina. As practical experience of running transport on 14 September 1927, he served you may know, Line A of our underground undertakings and writing about them. He apprenticeships in draughtsmanship and system still operates cars built in 1912. died on 20 April 2012 at the age of 86. developed engineering in the private However, these cars have recently been Frederick Philip Groves was born sector, before entering the municipal world removed from service and 20 of the 80 vintage in Rochdale on 15 April 1926, but the as a technical assistant with Manchester cars are destined to be preserved in Buenos family soon moved to the West Midlands Corporation in 1956. He then served Aires, the others face an uncertain future. and he was educated at Coventry as Rolling Stock Engineer at Southport Our Association would be interested in Grammar School and (as an evacuee) (1958) and Chief Engineering Assistant at finding organisations that may be interested in Wellingborough School. In 1942 he Halifax (1959). Thereafter he successively acquiring some of these cars, and to encourage joined the staff of Coventry Transport, became General Manager at Aberdare such organisations to get in contact with the moving in 1955 to United Automobile (1961), Barrow-in-Furness (1964), local underground company. Services in Newcastle-upon-Tyne as Coventry (1969) and Blackpool (1974). We are not directly offering these cars, Assistant Traffic Superintendent. His appointment in Blackpool lasted merely helping the operator find new homes Later promoted to Deputy Traffic until 1989, towards the end of which for these fine machines. Our sole interest is to Superintendent, he returned to the period operation of the tram and bus fleets make sure as many of these cars as possible municipal fold at Traction was transferred to will be preserved. If anyone wishes to contact as Deputy General Manager, moving Services, a council-owned company. us, please do so at [email protected]. in the same capacity to Nottingham On the tramway side, apart from minor Ricardo Barreiro, Treasurer, Corporation in 1972. A year later he was developments to the tramcar fleet, the Asociación Amigos del Tranvía appointed General Manager, but took early most memorable event of his regime was retirement in 1983 on health grounds. the celebration of the centenary of the On the literary side, he produced tramway in 1985. This calminated in a Nottingham City Transport in 1978, grand cavalcade held on 29 September of Nottingham’s Tramways, with Bob Parr in that year, which consisted of 20 cars in 1979, Coventry Transport, with Stanley total, several of which were on loan from Denton, in 1985 and The Manchester other bodies, including, most notably, Tramways, with Ian Yearsley, in 1988. a working steam tram engine from the A kindly man, possessing a deep faith, , Crich. Philip was dedicated to his work and to A man passionate about public his staff. He married his wife Joyce in transport, Derek died in Blackpool, after 1950, when they were in Coventry. She a short illness. His wife and elder brother predeceased him, but he is survived by his (Geoff Hyde, President of the National son, Stephen, who is an Anglican priest Tramway Museum) predeceased him, but and at whose home at St Leonards-on- he is survived by his son John, daughter Buenos Aires Subte line A car 100 (99 years old at Sea, Philip spent his retirement. JAS/GBC Ruth and two grandchildren. JAS/GBC the time) at the new Puan station in February 2012. Mike Russell

The full list of the year’s meetings and meeting places can also be MEETINGS & EVENTS found at www.lrta.org

February Affordable tramway infrastructure. (TLRS) 19.40. Mike Slamo: Salopian saga. (TLRS) . Saturday 23. Dartford 14.00. Hans . Monday 18. Liverpool 19.30. Brian . Saturday 16. Taunton 14.00. Members' Retallick: Russian trams – Dartford Library, Yates: UK trolleybus systems. (TLRS) photos and models. (TLRS) Market St, Central Park, Dartford, DA1. (TLRS) . Monday 18. Sheffield 19.30. Alan . Monday 18. Liverpool 19.30. Dave . Thursday 28. Manchester 19.00. Philip Yearsley: Bordeaux and Robert Pritchard: Webster: Cine films. (TLRS) Purdy: A farewell from Manchester Metrolink. Brno, Olomouc and Liberec. . Monday 18. Sheffield 19.30. Stuart March . Monday 18. Wickham 19.30. AGM Cooke: Trams in Prague, Berlin and Vienna. and models competition. (TLRS) . Monday 18. Wickham 19.30. Ashley . Saturday 2. West Midlands 14.00. . Tuesday 19. London 19.00. Nick Britton: Watt: Railways of Corsica. (TLRS) General meeting. (TLRS) Swiss light rail update . Tuesday 19. Bristol 19.30. Joint meeting . Tuesday 5. Southampton 19.30. John . Wednesday 20. Bristol 19.30. Briam with Bristol Railway Circle at Redland Green. Laker shares more archive cine film. (LRTA/SEG) Lomas: Video TBA. . Tuesday 19. London 19.00. Andy Steel: . Friday 8. Glasgow 19.30. Murdoch Currie: . Thursday 21. Dartford 19.30. Mike Edinburgh Tramway update. Europe at the start of this century. (STTS) Skeggs: Films from the attic. (TLRS) . Friday 22. Edinburgh 19.30. Andy Steel: . Saturday 9. Birmingham 14.00. Centro: . Friday 22. Edinburgh 19.30. Richard JS Edinburgh Tramway update. Midland Metro developments. (LRTA/TLRS/ERS) Wiseman: Tramway miscellany. . Friday 22. Leicester 19.45. John Lessells . Monday 11. Richmond 19.30. Mike . Friday 22. Leicester 19.45. Martin & Pete Mullahy: Blackpool then and now. (TMS) Skeggs: 'Still more from his film archive' (TLRS) Jenkins Annual Lecture: More historic travels . Saturday 23. Beeston 14.00. Lewis Lesley: . Wednesday 13. Brighton (Southwick) on slides. (TMS)

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org MARCH 2013 115 Classic Trams: Poznan Inspirational heritage operation

Pozna ’s compact city network is home to an active heritage operation – and one that takes a different and inspirational form, as Mike Russell describes

his article concerns a rather different style of heritage 1 operation from those customarily recorded in these pages. The picture continually evolves and since the reportT was first compiled, there have been further changes - although the basis remains the same. The Polish city of Poznań has a long tramway history and a good record in the conservation of historic tramcars. Operation of a horse-drawn tramway began in 1880 and one of the original cars was later saved for posterity, at one time being exhibited on the forecourt of ul. Głogowska depot. Electric operation started in 1898. A strong and highly- motivated local tram club has in recent years ensured the survival of several different cars from more recent times. Each summer, the group Klub Miłośników Pojazdów Szynowych (KMPS) operates examples of its historic fleet on line 0, an increasingly popular afternoon city tour on weekends from early May to the end of September. The itinerary varies from year to year, and the tour is supplemented by operations featuring historic motorbuses. Like most Polish tramways, Poznań built up a huge fleet of two-axle N-type cars in the post-war years and many 1 The unusual Siemens Combino), while in 2012 a batch of 45 Solaris were still in service until 1992, some in three-car sets until street lighting at Tramino cars joined the fleet. There was also an experimental 1990. The fleet also included Chorzów-built articulated Most Sw. Rocha three-section 105N/2 car, 400, built out of set 164+163 by 102N and 102Na types and the later bogie 105N types. also supports the FPS in Poznań, since withdrawn. Arrival of the Tramino cars With the changes brought about by the post-1989 political tramway overhead has not seen the end of second-hand acquisitions: in 2011 order, it was deemed desirable to replace the remaining wiring; this is a new further Düwag three-section Rheinbahn cars arrived. two-axle stock with more modern articulated cars; the section of tramway KMPS seeks to make its collection more comprehensive, N-class cars had been neglected during the twilight years only opened in and aimed to take over part of Poznań’s original depot in of communism and their condition was unattractive when recent years. 105N ul. Gajowa, the oldest in the country but closed in 2009, facing the challenge of increasing private car ownership. set 194+193 has for a museum. The depot was sold, however, to a developer As bulk purchase of new cars was financially been restored to for conversion into housing and a market. It is intended to impracticable, good second-hand Düwag cars were sourced original condition leave one track inside the hall, allowing the museum tram from Germany, namely Frankfurt-am-Main and the with low-level to start and terminate there. Converting the depot into a Rheinbahn in Düsseldorf, with others from Amsterdam in the museum remains a stated aim of KMPS but is now unlikely. Netherlands. Poznań was one of the first Polish recipients of cab windows and Poznań must rank as one of the world’s most compact big surplus cars from western tramway undertakings and many roof-mounted route city tramways. It has but 65km (40 miles) of track but a large entered service wearing the livery of their former operators. number stencils, number of routes, with very high frequency services provided and is proceeding to on all trunk corridors. The complicated route pattern results Bewildering variety Starołęka. from the installation of no fewer than six full and two three- In the last two decades, the Poznań fleet has presented a quarter Grand Union junctions – the Amsterdam trams must bewildering if fascinating variety of stock. Besides the 2 You don’t have have felt truly at home! Some of these are conventional aforementioned second-hand acquisitions, other, double- to be a seasoned layouts wholly at street intersections, whilst others are laid ended, rolling stock was acquired from Frankfurt for use tram traveller in the central reservations of traffic roundabouts. during track reconstruction projects; many of the large fleet to appreciate a With a large student population, about 20% of the of Chorzów-built 105N bogie cars were rebuilt in a variety classic tramcar. tramways’ passenger traffic, Poznań has a seasonally- of different configurations; whilst some of the Polish-built The last remnants peaked operation and services during university vacations articulated cars remained in service until quite recently. of this crocodile are significantly reduced. An unusual feature is that one Some two types of low-floor tram were purchased (the of schoolchildren line – 3, Wilczak to Starołęka – is completely suspended for Tatra RTN61, which proved initially troublesome, and the board 102Na three months from mid-June to mid-September. During this articulated car 71 2 in A. Fredry outside 3 the Mickiewicza University building. 3 Alone amongst Polish tramways, Poznań maintains the tradition of cut- out roof-mounted route number stencils on a small number of its cars. Car 71 seen here at Wilczak.

116 march 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org 5 5 105N set 6 194+193 takes a curve at the complex of tracks at Most Teatralny, one of six full Grand Union junctions in Poznań, en route for Starołęka. 6 Poznań’s newest Grand Union junction was installed in recent years at the junction of Kórnicka and Jana 7 Pawla II following 8 completion of the new link across Most Sw. Rocha. Here Poznań’s last remaining six-axle Düwag articulated car, 615, earmarked for the museum fleet and repainted into the livery of its original operator, the Düsseldorf- based Rheinbahn, approaches en route time, the Wilczak branch has often been relegated to storage for Starołęka. 805 was involved in a collision and it is currently uncertain of laid-up cars, though with the opening of the Franowo whether repairs will be undertaken. depot in spring 2013 this will no longer be necessary. 7 The last survivor This special operation lasted throughout the 2011 – 12 Service on line 3 is restricted to Monday to Friday of two batches of season until line 3 was suspended for its summer break daytimes, and these features render it an ideal candidate articulated cars in June 2012. When full-scale operation resumed in for operation of cars not designed for continuous frontline acquired from September, the arrangement was varied: the cars continued service – such as members of the potential museum fleet. Amsterdam is in daily service but not specifically on line 3. Instead, they 3G car 805, seen were distributed around the city network and can usually be Special operation here in Zielona, found on routes 4, 8 and 11. Whilst this is a more orthodox In 2011, by agreement between KMPS and operator Miejskie a section of city use of veteran cars, it has diluted the attraction of confining Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Poznaniu (MPK), route centre track opened them to operation on one daytime-only route and it is hoped 3, though an integral part of the network, was effectively in connection with the previous arrangement may at some stage be restored. operated as a heritage tram route. The daily allocation the link across Most was habitually drawn from the ranks of cars intended for Sw. Rocha, which Where next? the museum collection and advertised as such. This is a opened in 2007. The enthusiast group is not slow in bringing its efforts to textbook case of how to operate historic cars imaginatively. the attention of the public. Cars 71 and 194+193 carry roof- Route 3 requires five cars to provide its maximum 8 mounted illuminated panels advertising the fact that under 20-minute service. Two of these were drawn from The tram allocated Polish law, taxpayers may specify up to 1% of their annual indigenous Poznań rolling-stock, comprising the two-car to fifth car working tax liability to go to specific charitable objects, in which train of 105N cars 194+193, restored to original condition on ‘semi-heritage’ way the club encourages the populace to support its efforts with deep-level screens to the front dash and roof-mounted line 3 comes from to maintain the museum fleet. Let us hope that its entreaties route number stencils. The other is 102Na articulated car 71, the ranks of the fall on receptive ears and that the objective of establishing a dating from 1972 and one of the last of the 65 received by eight-axle Düwag permanent home for the growing fleet can be achieved. the city. This is the last car of this type in service anywhere cars in the normal In recent years, KMPS has successfully retrieved several following withdrawal of the Łódź 803Na cars at the end of service fleet. On 2 former Poznań tramcars, albeit in seriously deteriorated March 2012 (see TAUT 894). It was internally restored in April 2012, the task condition, for restoration as examples of earlier rolling 2008. An example of the earlier 102N model with reversed- fell to ex-Rheinbahn stock. These include two-axle motor car 305, built by rake windscreen, car 1 of 1969, is also included in the 689, now in Poznań Weyer in 1905; Wismar-built trailer 423, acquired from museum fleet but not operated in normal service. livery. It is seen on Szczecin in the aftermath of World War Two to ease the From the ranks of the second-hand acquisitions come three the street section city’s pressing rolling-stock shortage; KSW car 158 of examples. Car 615, since 2011 restored to Rheinbahn livery, of Winogrady 1944, built by Fuchs of Heidelberg; and the chassis of is the last working example of the two-section six-axle proceeding to freight car 2054, which started life as one of the first two Düwag articulated cars acquired from 1993 onwards. There Wilczak. batches of electric passenger cars in 1898. This relic has are many other ex-Rheinbahn cars in the Poznań fleet, but been removed to MPK’s ul. Głogowska depot, where it is all are three-section eight-axle models. One of these, drawn intended eventually to build a replica body. from the normal service fleet, also performed on line 3. Former works car 2024, ex-N type 629 and The fifth car is the last surviving ex-Amsterdam Beijnes- one of the few of the type built in the Gdańsk shipyard, is built 3G car, 805, set aside for future museum use after the also scheduled for restoration, whilst Sanok N-type trailer rest were withdrawn in 2011. Dating from 1961, these cars 436 will undergo acceptance trials early in 2013 following arrived in Poznań in 2003 and were the second batch of ex- its restoration. Fully-restored N motor car 602 and trailer Amsterdam vehicles: a bigger batch of 18 type 1G and 2G All photography by 456 have been in the working heritage fleet for several years. cars dating from 1957-9 was received in the period 1991-95 the author on 2-3 . The assistance of Karol Tyszka in preparation of this article and some survived until 2004. On 22 November, however, April 2012. is gratefully acknowledged.

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org march 2013 117 BOOKSHOP Order online from: lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 35 High Street, Moulton, Spalding PE12 6QB Postage & packing: Any UK address: Add 10% (minimum £2.00, maximum £7.50) All addresses outside UK: Add 20% (minimum £4.00, maximum £15.00)

PCCs of Western Europe 1950-2010 – The tram that Belgium made By Geoffrey Skelsey & Yves-Laurent Hansart These authors are well-known for their previous work on the Brussels and Belgian Coastal tramways. Here they vividly describe the development of the PCC car in post-war Western Europe right through to the demise of this iconic type in recent years. It features 84 pages and over 150 black & white and colour photographs. Softback A4.

Price: £14.50 – An LRTA publication. Trade rates available to bookshops, libraries and museums. Contact [email protected] for more details.

Subways & Light Rail in the USA – 2: The West By Robert Schwandl Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake City & Denver This books tells the story of all urban rail systems in the West of the United States, from the old MuniMetro trolley routes and the efficient rapid transit system BART in San Francisco, to the numerous modern light rail systems in the entire region, to the modern metro system in LA.

Price: £17.00 – 160 pages, network maps, ca. 300 colour photos, English/German text.

Also available same price: “Subways & Light Rail in the USA – 1: East Coast”

Tram Atlas Deutschland By Robert Schwandl Third edition of this classic reference work in customary English/German format, essential when travelling in Germany. The series ‘Tram Atlas’ includes a colour map featuring stops, single-track sections, turning loops, other railway lines etc. for each tram system, around 70 in all. Basic data is in a box (route lengths, , vehicle types etc.) Each chapter enhanced with photos of current rolling stock, some 150 altogether. Includes Germany’s three trolleybus systems.

Price: £12.50 – Companion book, ‘Tram Atlas Schweiz & Österreich’ still available, same price.

To place an advertisement please contact Andy Adams Telephone: +44 (0)1832 281135 Email: [email protected]

118 MARCH 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org CheCkpoint™: LRT signaLLing COnTROL

he CheckPoint™ optic is a result Reliability of TSC’s continuing development • Each LED CheckPoint™ signal head is T programme to provide state-of-the-art designed using the latest microprocessor control solutions in the field of traffic control for to provide optimal reliability. tramway and light rail systems and comes in a • LED technology used in the LED CheckPoint™ range of configurations. has a MTBF of >60,000 hours driven at 300mA; The optic benefits from the latest range of the LED’s are actually driven at 150mA, microcontrollers, providing a flexible and reliable providing a lifespan well in excess of this. programming platform. Each optical subsystem • The ‘Fault’ output relay has a MTBF has been designed to provide enhanced aesthetics of 10,000,000 operations. and optical performance and was the first LED LRT solution to conform to the UK’s latest Availability TR2514A specification. • Standard LED CheckPoint™ signals Particular attention was paid to the design of are available ex stock. the retrofit module in order to provide a speedy • Custom designed LED CheckPoint™ are installation in a potentially hostile environment. available on request. Originally designed for the Sheffield Maintainability Supertram (UK) system to provide an energy- CheckPoint™ efficient (low carbon footprint) and reliable • The LED signal head is alternative to the legacy tungsten halogen designed for ease of mounting/removal via two simple ‘L’ brackets. FEATURES AND units, as such the optic is now installed in 40 SPECIFICATION locations across the Supertram system, with a • The entire electronic/optical assembly is rolling program to complete a further 250-plus constructed on one single PCB secured by • Meets the latest Department of Transport installations. four M5 screws. Specification TR2514A Light Signals For The The optic was chosen against its European • Replacement of individual electronic/optical Control of Tramcars. assembly is completed by the removal of one competitors to be installed across the Manchester • Simple retrofit procedure into existing Metrolink network, and the co-operative process eight-way connector and four M5 screws; a generic tungsten filament units. task that takes less than five minutes. with the client required the CheckPoint™ Complete housed module ready to install • Replacement of the entire optical door • range be extended to the PPI aspect, which TSC into new or existing systems. assembly requires the removal of one quickly designed, developed and manufactured. Provides full lamp monitoring. eight-way connector and two hinge pins. • A further requirement for a signal aspect which • Single circuit board design. could provide multi-functional aspect indications Safety • Onboard programming for enhancements was also initiated, which TSC speedily designed, • The LED CheckPoint™ software controlling / updates. produced and installed on the network. the optic has an integral ‘watchdog’ routine Supply voltage: 240V, 110V and 48V ac In addition to Sheffield and Manchester, which continually monitors execution of and 48V and 24V dc ± 20% @ < 300mA the CheckPoint™ range from TSC is also the software code. Any malfunctions cause operating frequency: 50Hz the preferred solution for other UK systems, the processor to shut down with all outputs Wiring: Complies to BS: 7671 including the Edinburgh Tram project, and defaulted to ‘failsafe’ digital inputs. operating temperature range: has keen interest from the light rail systems in -15°C to +60°C Nottingham and Dublin, Ireland. Diagnostics: RS232 engineers terminal; After the riots in Croydon in August 2011, LED indicator mimics TSC demonstrated and won the approval of Transport for London for the supply of the optical life expectancy: CheckPoint™ Stop/Go aspect. TSC was also >60,000 hours approached to develop and supply a modified Signal chromaticity: The colour of light variant of the PPI for use on London Tramlink. emitted from each light emitting element for This has become the first LED LRT solution in both the normal and dimmed conditions the UK that conforms to the latest TR2514A meet the requirements of specification. BS: 1376 Class C. The unit’s simple, stylish design provides a Contrast Ratio: >18:1 single, uniform, cool white LED emitter housed Dimming: Programmable between one behind an anti-vandal polycarbonate lens and is quarter and half full intensity. equipped with diagnostics that can be interpreted UtC: Reply bit reports any LED and power via a standard engineers terminal. failure. Current versions include 240V, 110V, and Lamp Monitoring: Compatible with 48V ac in both white an amber LED. Extra low most currently available traffic signal voltage (48V and 24V dc) versions have been controllers. produced to interface to the latest ELV traffic physical dimensions: The LRT head is signal controllers. approximately 420x42x250mm deep with Read more about TSC’s further range of weighs 6.5kg complete with brackets. The PPI products and services at our website – head is approximately 420x42x250mm deep www.trafficsystems.co.uk – or please call us on and weighs 5kg complete with brackets. +44 (0)1709 362855.

www.trafficsystems.co.uk І Phone: +44 (0)1709 362855 І Fax: +44 (0)1143 276548

42_TAUT1302_layoutpage.indd 1 28/01/2013 10:56 TSC Advert.indd 1 30/07/2012 15:21 FOR EARLYBIRD RATES AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CALL +44 (0) 1832 281135 15-16 May 2013 Manchester Conference Centre 2013 Manchester, UK BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION

The 8th Annual UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition brings together over 200 HEADLINE SUPPORTERS decision-makers for two days of open debate covering all aspects of light rail development – the event also includes a planned tour of one of Manchester Metrolink’s new extensions.

Modules and debates for 2013 include: ❱ BIM: A new approach to LRT design ❱ Fare collection and revenue protection: ❱ Approaches for reducing trackform costs Experience and best practice ❱ Operator forum: Sharing best practice ❱ The role of social media in passenger ❱ Utilities: Striking the right balance communication ❱ Common procurement models: Lessons ❱ LRT security and safety: The Human Factor from Brest and Dijon ❱ How HS2 can help grow UK LRT ❱ Bridging the structural disconnect between ❱ Edinburgh: Back on track LRT and sustainable development

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Norman Baker MP – UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport · Roger Harrison – Chairman, Tramlink Nottingham · Chris Coleman – Managing Director, Metrolink RATP Dev · Alan Coyle – Project Manager, City of Edinburgh Council · Ian Brown CBE – Director, Crossrail · Michael Sheedy – Light Rail Director, RPA · Mark Ostheimer – Operations Director, National Joint Utilities Group · Richard McClean – Managing Director, DB Regio Tyne & Wear · Günter Koch – Transport and Operational Consulting, DB International

SUPPORTED BY

UKLRC13 advert.indd 1 30/01/2013 13:10